Business leaders across the UK are uniting to urge the government to embed blockchain technology at the heart of the UK–US Tech Bridge agreement, a framework designed to enhance trade and innovation between the two nations. Highlighting the strategic significance of stablecoins and tokenization, these leaders warn that omitting digital assets could cause the UK to fall behind as global competitors, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, rapidly evolve their regulatory landscapes. According to a letter addressed to UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle, co-signed by key bodies such as the UK Cryptoasset Businesses Council, UK Finance, and TheCityUK, the exclusion of blockchain from this cooperative framework would be a missed opportunity for both innovation and establishing financial standards.

The coalition's letter stresses that blockchain strategies should form an integral part of the Tech Bridge’s work, advocating for harmonised regulatory standards between the UK and the US. They underscore the value of use cases like stablecoin corridors and cross-border tokenized assets, which hold the potential to streamline international trade and finance, reduce costs, and stimulate innovation. Importantly, while pushing for progress, these groups also emphasise the necessity of maintaining financial stability through clear and fair regulation. They have proposed an operational framework that supports innovation while safeguarding markets, building on the foundations laid by the UK’s broader fintech roadmap, which has already welcomed blockchain in financial services and payments via regulatory sandbox environments.

Industry voices call for stronger commitments beyond experimentation, specifically seeking regulatory certainty around stablecoins and tokenized securities. Trade groups warn that without clear inclusion, the UK risks losing investment, jobs, and global influence to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions. Collaboration with US regulators is seen as a vital step to simplify cross-border payments and digital securities management, which could provide greater clarity and trust for fintech companies, banks, and investors. Regulatory preparations are underway in the UK, with licensing applications for crypto firms expected to open next year, presenting a timely chance for coordinated regulation under the Tech Bridge platform.

The call for blockchain’s prioritisation is further reflected in appeals to the Prime Minister’s office, where several digital economy trade organisations have requested the appointment of a special envoy focused solely on crypto and blockchain technology. Drawing on the US’s successful policy shifts under the Trump administration as a benchmark, these groups argue that a dedicated governmental focus would spur substantial investment, growth, and job creation within the sector. This appeal aligns with a broader push by British trade associations for a comprehensive action plan that positions digital assets and blockchain as strategic priorities for the nation’s economic future.

Ultimately, UK business leaders underscore the urgency of leveraging the UK–US Tech Bridge as a proactive platform rather than just a symbolic gesture. They advocate for stablecoins and tokenization to be embedded within legal, operational, and technical standards that will ensure the UK remains competitive and influential in the fast-evolving global landscape of digital finance. Failure to act decisively risks the UK being sidelined as other regions advance their crypto and blockchain regulation, potentially eroding the country’s position at the forefront of financial innovation.

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Source: Noah Wire Services