A new report from crypto infrastructure provider Fireblocks reveals a sharp divide in how European and UK financial institutions are approaching digital asset regulation. According to the survey, 99% of firms in the European Union say they support the current regulatory framework. Meanwhile, their UK counterparts are betting on change — planning to allocate 59% of new digital asset funding as the country's own rules take shape.
EU firms: Overwhelming support for the status quo
The near-unanimous backing from EU firms isn't surprising. The region's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has been in effect for over a year now, providing a clear legal framework. Fireblocks' data shows that continental European companies are actively investing within these established rules. The report notes that these firms are “significantly increasing investment in digital asset infrastructure” — but they're doing so inside a known regulatory box.
UK firms: Preparing for a new rulebook
Across the Channel, the picture looks different. UK financial institutions are also ramping up digital asset spending, but they're operating in a more fluid environment. The UK government has been consulting on its own crypto regulatory regime, but final rules aren't yet in place. Fireblocks found that UK firms plan to direct 59% of their new digital asset funding toward preparations for this upcoming framework. That's a big bet on rules that are still being written.
Two strategies, one goal
Both regions are pouring money into digital asset infrastructure. The difference is timing and certainty. European firms can build with confidence because the rules are settled. UK firms are building with anticipation — they're spending now to be ready when the regulatory green light comes. Fireblocks' report doesn't say which approach is better, but it does highlight a clear strategic divergence. For now, the EU has a head start on clarity. The UK is betting that its eventual framework will be worth the wait.
What happens next depends on how quickly the UK finalizes its rules. If the new regime lands this year, those firms allocating 59% of funding could look prescient. If it drags, they'll be sitting on infrastructure built for a framework that hasn't arrived.
