The UK and the European Union will hold a summit on July 22, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer pushes for a post-Brexit reset. The meeting is expected to strengthen broader political and economic ties, but it leaves unresolved regulatory challenges for crypto businesses operating across borders.
What the summit is about
Starmer's government has made resetting relations with the EU a priority since taking office. The July 22 summit, announced this week, is the first major in-person meeting between UK and EU leaders aimed at smoothing over frictions that have lingered since the 2020 trade deal. Discussions will cover trade, security, and data flows — but digital asset regulation isn't on the published agenda.
Why crypto businesses care
UK-based crypto firms that serve EU customers face a patchwork of rules. The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework came into full effect earlier this year, creating a single rulebook for all 27 member states. The UK has its own regime under the Financial Conduct Authority, which diverges in key areas like stablecoin oversight and marketing rules. Without a mutual recognition agreement, companies have to comply with two sets of rules — or choose one market over the other.
What's not being said
Neither side has publicly proposed a crypto-specific workstream for the summit. That omission has frustrated some industry groups, who had hoped the reset would include a financial services annex. The summit's outcome document, expected to be released after the meeting, is unlikely to address digital assets directly, according to people familiar with the planning. That means the regulatory fragmentation will persist for at least the rest of the year.
What happens next
After the July 22 summit, UK and EU officials are expected to set up working groups on financial services — but it's unclear whether crypto will get a dedicated track. The next concrete milestone is a Treasury-commissioned review of UK crypto regulation due later this autumn, which may recommend alignment with MiCA on some points. Until then, companies operating in both jurisdictions will have to keep running two compliance operations.
