UK FCA Approves On-Chain Fund Tokenisation as D2F Model Launches

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published Policy Statement...

Quick overview

  • The UK FCA has released Policy Statement PS26/7, simplifying the tokenisation of funds for asset managers, effective April 30, 2026.
  • New rules allow authorised funds to use distributed ledger technology for official records, enhancing efficiency and governance.
  • The Direct-to-Fund model enables investors to interact directly with funds, improving settlement speed and reducing intermediary risks.
  • This regulatory clarity positions the UK as a leader in fund tokenisation, promoting competitiveness in digital finance.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published Policy Statement PS26/7, setting out final rules that make it much easier for asset managers to tokenise funds. These rules take effect on April 30, 2026, marking a key step in the UK’s tokenisation plans.

Key Changes

  • On-Chain Fund Registers: Authorised funds, including UCITS, can now use distributed ledger technology and public blockchains as the main official record for unitholders and transactions. The Blueprint model is fully supported, which cuts down on expensive off-chain duplicates while keeping governance and correction rights in place.
  • Direct-to-Fund (D2F) Dealing: This new optional model lets investors work directly with the fund or its depositary. It removes the risk from intermediaries, allows for almost instant settlement, and brings major efficiency improvements. This is especially useful for tokenised funds that use on-chain cash.

Why This Is Huge for 2026

Asset managers now have clear regulatory certainty to tokenise funds within the current authorised framework. The benefits include faster settlement, possibly around the clock, lower costs, better transparency, fractional ownership, and improved liquidity. It also makes it easier to invest in tokenised assets such as digital gilts.

The FCA continues to enforce strong investor protections, KYC/AML checks, and resilience standards. This first phase, which focuses on registers and dealing, sets the stage for broader wholesale use of DLT later in 2026.

The industry has responded very positively, saying this move will make the UK more competitive in digital finance. FCA Executive Director Simon Walls highlighted the important role of tokenisation in asset management and the need to keep high standards for consumers.

This move puts the UK among the leading countries for regulated fund tokenisation. Asset managers can now move forward with real-world blockchain adoption confidently.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

Related Articles

HFM

HFM rest

Pu Prime

XM

Best Forex Brokers