Most UK banks are restricting customers' ability to move funds to even FCA-registered crypto exchanges, despite a growing list of firms certified by the regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority's register now includes 59 crypto asset companies, among them exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken and Gemini. At the same time, a lobby group survey shows exchanges reporting widespread increases in blocks and limits on bank transfers.
Current Banking Restrictions on Crypto Exchanges
According to the report from the UK Cryptoasset Business Council, seven out of the 10 top exchanges operating in the country perceive increased hostility from national banks over the past year, while the remainder see no change. A full 80% of exchanges said more customers experienced blocks or limits to bank transfers in 2025, and the survey found that 40% of transactions were blocked or delayed. These measures range from transfer caps to complete refusals to process payments to exchange accounts.
- HSBC, Barclays and NatWest: impose limits on how much customers can transfer to exchange accounts.
- Chase UK, Metro Bank and TSB: apply full blocks on transfers to crypto exchanges.
- Starling Bank: does not enable customers to buy or sell cryptocurrencies by debit card or bank transfer in GBP or other currencies.
Impact on Crypto Businesses
Exchanges say the banking restrictions materially affect their operations and customers' ability to transact. Seven of the top 10 exchanges reported a worsening relationship with national banks, and one exchange recorded nearly $1.4 billion in declined transactions in 2025 due to bank-side rejections. The combination of limits and outright blocks has led some firms to prioritise other markets over the UK.
- 80% of exchanges reported more customers facing bank transfer blocks in 2025.
- 40% of transactions were blocked or delayed, according to the survey.
- One exchange observed nearly $1.4 billion in declined transactions attributed to bank rejections.
Regulatory Developments
The FCA, which had been restrictive in the past, has demonstrated more openness and has started consulting on new rules to be implemented by October 2027; this process is intended to clarify regulatory expectations for firms. The road to formal regulation became clearer at the end of 2025 when the Treasury extended existing financial rules to cover the crypto industry, reinforcing the legal framework that firms must follow. UK Finance has said it supports regulating stablecoins and custody under robust rules while noting individual banks must make risk-based decisions.
For more detail on the FCA's work, see the FCA consultation, and for background on the legislative step that clarified licensing, see the article on licensing in 2025.
Bank Responses and Justifications
Banks maintain they act to protect customers and to manage fraud, scams and economic crime risks, and some stress their policies are under continual review. Starling Bank has said it does not enable customers to use debit cards or bank transfers to buy or sell cryptocurrencies, framing the approach as customer protection in light of the high risks digital assets present. UK Finance, representing many banks and providers, expressed support for bringing crypto activities under clear regulatory rules while allowing banks to make risk-based decisions.
Почему это важно
Если вы майните и используете биржи или платёжные маршруты, связанные с британским банковским сектором, вам важно знать, что даже зарегистрированные у FCA платформы сталкиваются с блокировками переводов. В результате вывод средств, покупка или пополнение баланса могут задерживаться или быть отклонены, что влияет на скорость операций и удобство работы с зарубежными площадками. Даже если вы не используете банки Великобритании напрямую, ограничения меняют поведение бирж и их приоритеты в выборе рынков.
Что делать?
Короткие практические рекомендации для майнера с 1–1000 устройств, проживающего в РФ:
- Проверяйте, поддерживает ли конкретная биржа приёмы и выводы, прежде чем переводить крупные суммы.
- Имейте резервные варианты вывода средств и распределяйте активы по нескольким площадкам, чтобы минимизировать задержки.
- Документируйте отклонённые транзакции и связывайтесь с поддержкой биржи и банка для разбирательства и архивации случаев.
- Следите за регуляторными шагами и статусом регистрации бирж у FCA — это влияет на долгосрочную доступность сервисов.
