Full library
Guides
Plain-English UK guides fact-checked against gov.uk, HMRC, FCA and Bank of England sources.
The basics
New to digital assets? Start here — plain-English explanations with no jargon.
- What are digital assets?
A plain-English introduction for people who have never owned crypto — what digital assets are, everyday examples, and what makes them different from money in your bank.
- Words explained
Blockchain, wallet, exchange, NFT and other terms explained simply for UK readers with no crypto background.
- Should you invest?
FCA-aligned checklist — debt, emergency fund, FOMO and whether crypto fits your situation.
Tax & HMRC
Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, Self Assessment and record-keeping for UK cryptoasset holders.
- Crypto tax overview
A simple guide to UK tax on crypto — when you might owe Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax, and what records to keep.
- CGT on crypto
How Capital Gains Tax works on UK crypto disposals in 2025/26 — rates, the £3,000 allowance, losses and reporting deadlines.
- CARF reporting
Plain-English guide to the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework — what UK providers must report to HMRC from January 2026 and what you still must declare yourself.
- Pooling rules
How HMRC share pooling, same-day matching and the 30-day bed-and-breakfast rule work when you calculate crypto Capital Gains Tax.
- Staking & mining tax
When crypto rewards count as Income Tax in the UK — staking, mining, airdrops and being paid in tokens.
- NFT tax
How UK tax applies when you buy, sell or create NFTs — explained in plain English.
- DeFi tax
How UK tax applies to decentralised finance — DEX swaps, liquidity pools, yield farming and lending. Plain English with HMRC sources.
- Record keeping
What transaction records UK crypto holders must keep for HMRC — dates, sterling values, fees and a free downloadable CSV template.
- Self Assessment
How to register for Self Assessment and report crypto gains and income to HMRC — deadlines, forms and records.
- SA108 crypto boxes
Which SA108 boxes to use for UK crypto gains and losses in 2025/26 — proceeds, costs, gains, losses and income.
- When to report
UK reporting rules for 2025/26 — £3,000 CGT allowance, £50,000 proceeds threshold, income triggers and CARF.
- Voluntary disclosure
How to disclose undeclared UK crypto tax — lookback years, penalties, interest and the HMRC disclosure service.
- Penalties & nudge letters
What happens if you file late, underpay crypto tax, ignore a nudge letter, or fail CARF identity checks.
- Tax software guide
Compare crypto tax tools for UK Self Assessment — HMRC pooling, SA108 output, and what HMRC does not endorse.
- CGT worked example
Step-by-step Capital Gains Tax calculation for UK crypto — buy, swap and sell with Section 104 pooling in plain numbers.
- Paid in crypto
When your employer pays in bitcoin or tokens — PAYE, Self Assessment and CGT when you sell.
- Losses & harvesting
How to use crypto losses against gains, carry losses forward, and record lost or stolen tokens.
- Forks, gifts & lost crypto
HMRC treatment of chain splits, gifting crypto, theft and lost access — plain English.
- Margin trading tax
How HMRC may treat leveraged crypto trading — capital gains vs trading income.
- Business crypto tax
When crypto activity is a trade — sole traders, Ltd companies, VAT and corporation tax basics.
- Leaving the UK
What UK-resident crypto holders should consider before emigrating — residence, disposals and professional advice.
- Divorce & crypto
Disclosing and valuing crypto in financial remedy proceedings — information only, not legal advice.
- Charity donations
Capital Gains Tax relief on crypto gifts to UK charities — and how to avoid charity scams.
FCA & regulation
How the Financial Conduct Authority regulates crypto firms, promotions and consumer protection in the UK.
- FCA crypto rules
Who regulates crypto in the UK, how to check a firm is legitimate, and why your crypto is not protected like bank savings.
- Financial promotions
Who can promote crypto to UK consumers, required risk warnings, and what the FCA financial promotions regime means for social media and influencers.
- 2026–2027 timeline
When full FCA crypto regulation begins, authorisation applications open, and what changes for UK consumers.
- Check FCA register
Verify a UK crypto firm is on the FCA register before you send money. Plain-English walkthrough with what MLR registration means and what it does not.
- No FSCS protection
Why UK bank deposit protection does not cover crypto on exchanges — Celsius-style failures, scams and what you can do.
- FCA 2027 for consumers
The new UK crypto authorisation regime — Consumer Duty, staking, custody and what to expect as a buyer.
- ATMs & promotions
Why unregistered crypto ATMs are illegal, how to spot unlawful financial promotions, and FCA warning signs.
- Security tokens
How FCA-regulated security tokens differ from bitcoin-style exchange tokens.
- Proof of reserves
Why 'proof of reserves' is not deposit insurance and what it does not guarantee.
- Gambling tokens
Where crypto gambling and prediction markets sit under UK law — and why they differ from investing.
Buying digital assets
Using FCA-registered exchanges, understanding risks, and what UK law requires of providers.
- How to buy crypto
A step-by-step guide for beginners — choosing a safe app, paying in pounds, and keeping records for tax.
- Sell for pounds
Sell bitcoin and other crypto for GBP safely — bank withdrawal, tax records, and FCA-registered exchanges explained.
- KYC explained
Why UK crypto apps ask for photo ID, how verification works, and what data CARF means from 2026.
- Bank blocks
Why UK banks decline transfers to crypto exchanges and practical steps that often work.
- Travel Rule
Why transfers between UK exchanges may be delayed and what information providers collect.
- Withdrawal freeze
What to do if a crypto platform blocks withdrawals or goes quiet.
Storage & custody
Hot wallets, cold storage, exchanges and inheritance — keeping cryptoassets secure under UK law.
- Safe storage
Where to keep your crypto, how passwords work, and what happens if you forget them — explained simply.
- Hardware wallets
How hardware wallets work for UK holders — seed phrases, backups, buying safely, and inheritance planning.
- Inheritance access
Practical steps for executors and families to access crypto after someone dies — wills, seed phrases and exchanges.
Scams & fraud
Recognising crypto scams, reporting to Action Fraud and recovering funds where UK rules allow.
- Crypto scams
How to spot fake investment sites, phishing and pressure tactics — and where to report them in the UK.
- Clone firms
Fraudsters impersonate real FCA firms. A plain-English checklist before you send money.
- Recovery scams
After losing crypto to fraud, a second scam often follows. How to recognise recovery fraud in the UK.
- All scam types
Every major UK crypto scam explained — phishing, pig butchering, clone firms, fake apps and recovery fraud.
Asset explainers
Plain-English introductions to Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, NFTs and other token types under UK law.
- Bitcoin
What bitcoin is, how UK tax and FCA rules apply, and what to know before buying BTC in the United Kingdom.
- Ethereum
What ether (ETH) is, staking considerations for UK tax, and how FCA rules apply to Ethereum-related services.
- Stablecoins
What stablecoins are, how the Bank of England and FCA approach regulation, and UK tax when swapping stablecoins.
- NFTs
Non-fungible tokens in the UK — tax on buying and selling NFTs, FCA perimeter issues, and copyright basics.
- XRP
What XRP is, how UK tax applies, and what to check before buying through an FCA-registered platform.
- Solana
What Solana is, staking tax considerations, and UK regulatory context for SOL holders.
- Digital pound
What the Bank of England's digital pound proposal is, how it differs from crypto, and the current consultation status.
- Tokenised securities
When digital tokens represent shares or bonds, FCA regulation applies — and tax follows the underlying asset.
- Stablecoin risks
Why stablecoins can fail despite ‘stable’ marketing — TerraUSD, reserves and upcoming UK rules.
Wills & inheritance
Digital assets in your will, Inheritance Tax and what executors need to know under UK law.
- Digital assets in wills
How to include bitcoin, NFTs and other digital assets in a UK will under the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025.
- IHT on crypto
When Inheritance Tax applies to cryptoassets in a UK estate — valuation, nil-rate band and reporting.
- Executors guide
What UK executors should do when an estate includes bitcoin, NFTs or exchange accounts.
Regional notes
Scotland, Wales and other UK regional differences for tax and language.