George Osborne Warns UK Risks Losing Crypto Race Over Regulatory Caution
Former UK Chancellor George Osborne has issued a sharp warning that Britain’s overly cautious approach to cryptocurrency and stablecoins could cause the nation to miss out on the next wave of financial innovation.
In a Financial Times op-ed, Osborne criticized Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, claiming the UK is falling behind global competitors.
“On crypto and stablecoins, as on too many other things, the hard truth is this: We’re being completely left behind. It’s time to catch up,” Osborne wrote.
Comparing the crypto boom to the transformative Big Bang financial reforms of the 1980s, Osborne argued that restrictive policies—particularly on stablecoins—are holding London back from becoming a true crypto hub. Bailey has previously warned against allowing stablecoins to replace traditional money and backed rules that critics say make sterling-pegged coins commercially unviable.
Tensions Grow Between UK Regulators and Industry
Osborne’s remarks follow fresh clashes between regulators and the crypto sector. Last week, UK broadcasters pulled a Coinbase ad depicting the financial system collapsing, a move Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called proof of industry criticism hitting a nerve.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has some of the toughest crypto rules globally. Its 2023 regime includes a 24-hour cooling-off period for new investors, bans on referral bonuses, and strict advertising rules that classify crypto as high risk.
CryptoUK, a leading digital asset trade association, echoed Osborne’s concerns.
“We need recognition of stablecoins in UK law and fairer banking policies, so digital asset companies can access the same financial services as other businesses,” said Su Carpenter, director of operations at CryptoUK.
She also noted that the unclear tax framework “has inhibited economic growth in the crypto sector,” while access to crypto-linked investment products remains restricted.
UK Falling Behind Global Peers
Despite regulator caution, adoption is growing: FCA data shows 12% of UK adults now hold crypto, up from 10% in 2022. Meanwhile, jurisdictions like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi have advanced with clearer frameworks.
London-based Alvara Protocol, which builds tokenized asset baskets on Ethereum and Avalanche, voiced frustration with the slow pace of UK reforms.
“The UK talks a big game about being a global crypto hub, but it’s still miles behind the EU’s MiCA framework and even the US’s chaotic, but active, approach,” said co-founder Callum Mitchell-Clark. “Everything feels stuck in consultation mode—too slow, too cautious, and out of sync with the industry’s speed.”
Mitchell-Clark added that the government’s rhetoric doesn’t match its policies.
“The message right now is: ‘we support innovation in theory.’ But if the UK keeps delaying action, it risks becoming irrelevant while talent and capital move to places like the EU, US, or Dubai.”
