Gemini bullish on UK market as crypto adoption climbs to 24%, but says many still waiting on regulatory ‘stamp of approval’
11 hours ago7 min read0 comments

The UK's crypto landscape is at a fascinating inflection point, a sentiment echoed by Gemini's recent bullish outlook as adoption figures climb to a notable 24%. This isn't just a statistic; it represents a quiet but significant groundswell of mainstream curiosity, a nation tentatively dipping its toes into the digital asset waters.Yet, as the exchange rightly highlights, a substantial portion of the population remains on the sidelines, not out of a lack of interest, but in a state of suspended animation, awaiting the crucial regulatory 'stamp of approval' expected with new rules in 2026. This dynamic perfectly encapsulates the current tension between the breakneck innovation of decentralized finance and the deliberate, measured pace of traditional financial governance.For many potential investors and established financial institutions, the current environment feels like a frontier—full of promise but lacking the clear signposts and guardrails they are accustomed to in TradFi. They aren't necessarily waiting for permission to buy Bitcoin, but for the clarity that would allow their pension funds, their asset managers, and their corporate treasuries to participate without existential regulatory risk.The 2026 timeline, while seemingly distant, provides a crucial runway. It's a period for the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury to craft a framework that doesn't simply bolt old-world thinking onto new-world technology, but one that genuinely understands the unique properties of blockchain—its transparency, its programmability, its borderless nature.The goal should be a hybrid model, one that protects consumers from the very real dangers of fraud and market manipulation without stifling the core innovation that makes this space so compelling. Will the UK follow the European Union's lead with MiCA, creating a comprehensive rulebook? Or will it forge a more bespoke path, perhaps leveraging its post-Brexit regulatory agility to become a more attractive hub than its European neighbors? The decisions made in the coming months will determine whether the UK becomes a global crypto hub as its government ambitionsly proclaims, or if it cedes this ground to more decisive jurisdictions.For firms like Gemini, this waiting game is a strategic challenge; it involves building infrastructure and trust now, betting that the regulatory clarity, when it arrives, will validate their long-term commitment to the market. The 24% adoption rate is the foundation; the regulatory framework will be the architecture that determines what gets built upon it.