US and UK strengthen ties on crypto regulation

The United States and the United Kingdom are planning closer cooperation on cryptocurrency oversight, aiming to boost innovation and financial stability.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met this week to discuss how the two countries can work together on regulating digital assets, according to the Financial Times. The meeting included major players from both traditional finance and crypto, such as Bank of America, Barclays, Circle, Citi, Coinbase, and Ripple.

Cassie Craddock, managing director of Ripple’s UK & Europe unit, welcomed the initiative, saying it could “set a template for international cooperation in our industry.” She added that the UK, with its deep capital markets and strong talent pool, is well-positioned to become a hub for digital asset innovation.

The talks build on the U.S.-UK Tech Bridge, a program designed to increase collaboration on advanced technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. Industry groups have urged both governments to formally include stablecoins and tokenization in this framework, warning that excluding digital assets could leave the UK behind as other regions move faster to define the future of finance.

Previously, U.S. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce suggested creating a “cross-border sandbox”, where crypto firms could operate under regulatory oversight for two years in both countries. Such ideas highlight the growing push for aligned global standards in digital finance.