Bitcoin Policy UK

Digital ID and Surveillance Systems: Why the UK Should Think Twice The UK government’s consultation on digital identity presents the proposal as a modernisation effort designed to make public services easier to access. But the implications may be far broader. In a detailed consultation response submitted by @fnew, Chief Policy Officer at Bitcoin Policy UK, the organisation warns that the architecture being proposed could become one of the most significant expansions of state surveillance infrastructure in modern British history. The proposed framework would link identity verification, biometric data and access to government services into a single system that could eventually become the primary gateway for interacting with the state. While framed as voluntary and convenient, history shows that administrative systems often become unavoidable through practical necessity once embedded into everyday processes such as employment verification and access to services. The consultation also raises broader concerns around: • Data security risks associated with large identity databases 
 • The potential for function creep and expanded surveillance 
 • Digital exclusion for vulnerable populations 
 • The existence of privacy-preserving alternatives As digital identity systems are debated around the world, it is essential that policymakers carefully consider the long-term consequences of the infrastructure being created. Our latest blog explores the issue in detail and outlines why this debate is ultimately not just technological, but fundamental to British values: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/digital-id-convenient-o… @Susie Violet

Antidote: Building the Home for Bitcoin Entrepreneurs in London and the UK London’s Bitcoin ecosystem continues to grow, and this week was a great example of that momentum. Our strategic partner Antidote, London’s first startup hub dedicated entirely to Bitcoin entrepreneurs, hosted the latest Women of Bitcoin Meetup, bringing together the Bitcoin community and a live Mining panel as part of its Virtual Summit. The panel was chaired by our CEO, Susie Violet Ward, who moderated a discussion with industry experts. Launched in 2025 with £2.5 million in funding from Fulgur Ventures, Initial Capital and private angel investors, Antidote was created to support the next generation of Bitcoin startups building in the UK. The hub provides early-stage founders with: • Free office space for six months
• Mentorship from experienced industry professionals
• Access to investors, legal experts and key networks This week also marked the announcement of Antidote’s first accelerator cohort, featuring startups building across AI, privacy and payments on Bitcoin. Alongside supporting startups, Antidote has quickly become one of London’s most active centres for Bitcoin events, bringing together entrepreneurs, developers and policymakers. At Bitcoin Policy UK we’re proud to partner with initiatives that strengthen the UK’s Bitcoin ecosystem and support the builders shaping its future. Read the full article here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/antidote-building-the-h… @Susie Violet @fnew

Bitcoin Policy UK 2026 Manifesto Is Sent to All MPs Following The FCA Cryptoassets Consultation Paper On 1 March 2026, Bitcoin Policy UK formally delivered its 2026 Bitcoin Policy Manifesto to all 650 Members of Parliament, following the FCA’s CP25/40 consultation. 2025 marked significant progress, including Bitcoin’s recognition as property under the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025. That legal clarity was a landmark step. However, regulatory frameworks still risk collapsing bitcoin into a broad “cryptoassets” category, applying uniform assumptions that fail to reflect structural differences between bitcoin-focused firms and token-based ventures. In a recent discussion with Cointelegraph, CEO Susie Violet Ward noted: “Prolonged rulemaking, overlapping regimes and compliance costs that are high relative to market size are discouraging firms from building in the UK.” The 2026 Manifesto outlines four priority reforms: • Remove restrictive rules
• Reverse the ban on retail access to spot Bitcoin ETFs
• Introduce capital gains tax exemptions for de minimis transactions
• Simplify tax and support investment in the UK Bitcoin ecosystem This is ultimately about economic modelling and competitiveness. Capital in this sector is globally portable. Regulatory clarity matters. 2026 will be a defining year for UK digital asset policy. Read the full press release here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bpuk-2026-manifesto-is-… @Susie Violet @fnew

"Capital goes where it is welcome and stays where it is well treated." Our CEO @Susie Violet Violet Ward will be speaking at CheatCode's ‘The Great Realignment’ on Friday 27 March 2026. Join the discussion: 20% off tickets with code BTCPOLICY! Who's coming? cheatcode.co.uk

The UK talks about becoming a global digital asset hub while bitcoin businesses continue scaling elsewhere. Gemini’s departure reflects structural reality, not execution friction. The problem is structural misunderstanding rather than regulatory speed. By categorising everything as “crypto” under a same risk same regulation framework, UK policy fails to distinguish bitcoin companies from token based ventures. These models differ materially. Many bitcoin businesses: * Operate long-term treasury strategies * Hold reserves in bitcoin * Rely less on cyclical fundraising * Maintain globally portable capital This changes their cost of capital, risk profile, and sensitivity to jurisdiction. When compliance burdens are high relative to opportunity, and regulatory transition remains uncertain, mobile capital reallocates. As global institutions increasingly treat bitcoin as infrastructure rather than speculation, mispricing this distinction risks weakening the UK’s competitive position.  The question is no longer whether bitcoin businesses will adapt. It is whether policymakers will engage with the structural shift underway. From 26 - 29 March 2026, CheatCode Conference returns under the theme “The Great Realignment,” examining how bitcoin is reshaping capital markets, energy systems, and business models. Susie Violet Ward will be speaking on these themes and the widening gap between bitcoin business models and legacy regulatory assumptions. Readers can receive an exclusive 20% discount on tickets using code BTCPOLICY on the CheatCode website. Read the full article here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/why-the-uk-keeps-misund… @Susie Violet @fnew @Peter McCormack

In this episode of ‘On The Record’, we present an audio version of Bitcoin Policy UK’s response to the FCA’s Consultation Paper CP25/40 on regulating cryptoasset activities (submitted 29 Jan 2026). BPUK’s submission stresses a vital distinction: Bitcoin is not interchangeable with issuer-driven “cryptoassets.” https://fountain.fm/episode/jyZRlVKUMbYORmCxs0T7 @Susie Violet @fnew

We’ve submitted our response to the FCA’s crypto consultation (CP25/40). Crypto is not one thing. A meme coin is not an NFT, or a stablecoin or Bitcoin. Treating them all the same leads to bad regulation, higher consumer harm, and lost UK competitiveness. Regulate intermediaries with custody and control,  not open-source infrastructure. Bitcoin is issuer-less, globally liquid, and fundamentally different. UK regulation must reflect that reality. Learn more here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/why-the-fca%E2%80%99s-c… @Susie Violet @fnew

“Same risk, same regulation only works if you understand the risk.” A thoughtful discussion at the London Business School on whether the UK’s approach to digital assets is helping or hindering its ability to compete for capital and talent.

Bitcoin ≠ “crypto” and regulation should reflect that. Treating all digital assets as one category flattens real differences in risk, governance, and structure. A decentralised monetary network is not the same as an issuer-led token. Good regulation starts with accurate classification. Read more here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/why-bitcoin-shouldnt-be… @Susie Violet @fnew

Bitcoin Policy UK is entering a consolidation phase. After three years of evidence-based Bitcoin policy engagement, BPUK will scale back to a maintenance only core due to a lack of sustainable industry funding. Our mission remains unchanged, and our work will stay publicly available. Read the full statement: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-policy-uk-enter…

Bitcoin Policy UK is entering a consolidation phase. This means scaling back to a minimal, maintenance-only operation, keeping our research, website, and communications active, to ensure continuity of our work supporting evidence-based Bitcoin policy in the UK. Our mission hasn’t changed. This is about sustainability, responsibility, and preserving what’s been built so far. Thank you to everyone who has supported BPUK along the way. Read our CEO statement here: https://tinyurl.com/4h5vfz86

Have you subscribed to our podcast yet? “On the Record” is available wherever you get your content. Follow us on @Fountain here: https://fountain.fm/show/BjN75IqanE2DpwJUxG76 In our latest episode, we present an audio version of Bitcoin Policy UK's response to the Bank of England and HM Treasury on the Digital Pound, originally published on 31 May 2023. This paper sets out why a retail CBDC represents a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the state, raising serious concerns around privacy, financial surveillance, programmability, and democratic oversight.

Our CEO @Susie Violet will be speaking on the regulation panel at the London Blockchain Summit 2026!  Panel: "Can the UK Still Win? Regulation, Capital, and the Reality of Competing as a Blockchain Hub" We will discuss UK competitiveness vs. global peers, regulatory frictions pushing firms offshore, capital deployment blockers for institutions, and the key policy levers needed to make the UK an innovation hub.  Come along if you're in London. Tickets: https://clubs.london.edu/Blockchain/rsvp_boot

The UK is wasting billions curtailing renewable energy, paying wind farms to switch off while burning fossil fuels to balance the grid. Bitcoin mining is the only flexible, scalable “buyer of last resort” that can absorb surplus renewables instantly and stabilise the grid. If the UK wants a real green transition, it can’t ignore Bitcoin mining.  Read more here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/why-the-uk-cannot-have-… @Susie Violet @fnew

Shaping Bitcoin’s Future in the UK: Our Policy Goals for 2026 Bitcoin has reached a turning point in the UK. With formal recognition as property now in place, 2026 will be a defining year for how Bitcoin is treated by policymakers, regulators, and institutions. At Bitcoin Policy UK, our goals for the year ahead include advancing key policy reforms, launching a Tax Working Group, and demonstrating sustainable mining innovations in the UK. This work is only possible with community support. If you believe the UK should be a place where Bitcoin can thrive responsibly, we invite you to read our full 2026 goals and consider supporting our mission: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/shaping-bitcoins-future… @Susie Violet @fnew

On 3 January 2009, the Bitcoin network launched with the mining of its first block, known as the Genesis Block. Embedded in that block was a headline from The Times newspaper: “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.” The message permanently anchors Bitcoin’s origin to the global financial crisis and the policy responses of that period. Seventeen years on, it still operates under the same core rules. Happy Genesis Day.

Bitcoin Policy UK 2025: a year of real progress. Thanks to our members and supporters, Bitcoin is now formally recognised as property under UK law, a major step for legal clarity, innovation, and adoption. From policy papers to Parliament, events to engagement, we moved the dial. In 2026: we build momentum. Read our CEO’s full year-in-review letter here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/letter-from-our-ceo---2… @Susie Violet @fnew

When it comes to Bitcoin, Africa isn’t waiting, it’s leading. At the African Bitcoin Conference, builders showed how Bitcoin is solving real problems: high remittance fees, broken currencies, limited banking access, and energy gaps. From education to microgrids to circular economies, Africa is using Bitcoin to build real financial freedom. Read more in our latest blog: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/africa-turns-to-bitcoin…

The African Bitcoin Conference showed that you don’t need to wait for permission. Real world adoption, energy innovation and policy coordination are accelerating across the continent. Africa is building the future. It was an honour for @Susie Violet and @fnew to represent Bitcoin Policy UK and be part of these conversations. You can read more about the projects we saw here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/12/05/af…

Bitcoin is Property The UK has officially recognised Bitcoin and other digital assets as a new category of personal property under the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025. This is a major step forward for legal clarity, investor confidence and innovation. We are proud that our work at Bitcoin Policy UK has helped drive progress. We’ll continue advocating for fair tax rules and clear regulation in 2026. @Susie Violet @fnew Read more in our latest blog: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-is-officially-p…