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Digital assets · News
28 February 2027: the deadline for crypto firms to apply for FCA authorisation, in a window that opened on 30 September 2026. The full regime starts on 25 October 2027, bringing Financial Ombudsman access but no FSCS cover.
Scam Watch · Explainer
Offers to recover lost crypto for an upfront fee are a known follow-on fraud, often run by the same people as the first scam. Report to the police and your bank, and use the official routes that exist.
Passion assets · Explainer
Global art sales rose 4% to an estimated US$59.6bn in 2025, but the growth sat at the top of the market and art pays no income. Fees on both sides of a sale, the artist's resale right and capital gains tax on works above £6,000 all cut into any gain, and selling can take time.
Passion assets · Explainer
Casks of whisky are sold as investments with no FCA regulation, no published price list and no compensation scheme behind the buyer. The court, police and advertising record shows what goes wrong and what proper ownership papers look like.
Digital assets · Explainer
Crypto marketing in the UK has carried risk warnings, a 24-hour cooling-off period and an incentives ban since October 2023, and retail investors have been able to buy crypto ETNs since October 2025. A full FCA regime starts on 25 October 2027; until then most crypto activity has no FSCS or ombudsman protection.
Scam Watch · Guide
Investment scams share recognisable warning signs, and the FCA's Firm Checker and Warning List let you check a firm in minutes. If money has gone, call your bank and report to Report Fraud, the service that replaced Action Fraud in December 2025.
