On 27 February 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a direction specifying the relevant application period for an application for a relevant cryptoasset permission to be made to the FCA under section 55U of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

The FCA specifies that the relevant application period will commence at 9:00am on 30 September 2026 and will end at 11:59pm on 28 February 2027.

The FCA also notes that under regulation 52 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 that it has the power to amend or replace the direction for the purpose of extending the relevant application period.