# How to check the FCA crypto register — step-by-step

Search the firm’s legal name on the FCA Financial Services Register (register.fca.org.uk). Look for ‘Cryptoasset exchange provider’ or ‘Cryptoasset custodian wallet provider’ under Money Laundering Regulations. Registration means AML checks — it does not mean your crypto is protected by FSCS or that you cannot lose money.

## Key facts
- Use register.fca.org.uk — not the firm’s own website alone.
- Search the exact legal entity name, not just the brand.
- MLR registration ≠ full FCA authorisation (until October 2027 for most activities).
- Clone firms copy real names — always verify on the register yourself.
- No registered crypto ATMs operate legally in the UK at present.
- If a firm is not registered, do not use it for UK services.

## Why you should check the register

UK crypto firms must register with the FCA for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance. The register is the official list of firms that have passed the FCA’s gateway for these checks. Using an unregistered firm may mean you are dealing with a business operating illegally in the UK.
## Step 1 — Open the Financial Services Register

Go to register.fca.org.uk. Do not follow a link from an advert, email or social media message — scammers create fake register pages. Type the URL yourself or use the link from fca.org.uk.
## Step 2 — Search the firm’s legal name

Enter the company’s legal name as shown in its terms and conditions, not just the trading brand. For example, search ‘Coinbase’ and also the full legal entity name if different. Check the ‘Firm Status’ is ‘Registered’ or ‘Authorised’ as appropriate.
## Step 3 — Check permitted activities

On the firm’s register page, look under ‘Permissions’ for cryptoasset-related activities such as ‘Cryptoasset exchange provider’ or ‘Cryptoasset custodian wallet provider’. These indicate registration under the Money Laundering Regulations. Until October 2027, most crypto activities are not fully authorised under FSMA — registration is mainly AML compliance.
## Step 4 — Watch for clone firms

Scammers set up websites copying legitimate firms. Even if a site looks professional, verify the exact URL and legal name on the register. The FCA publishes warnings about clone firms. If contact details differ from the register, treat it as a scam.

Work through the [clone-firm verification checklist](https://digital-assets.co.uk/scams/clone-firms-checklist/) when a name or website appears to match.
## What registration does not guarantee

Registration does not mean FSCS protection, guaranteed returns, or that you cannot lose your investment. Crypto remains high-risk. The FCA warns you should be prepared to lose all the money you invest. Registration means the firm must run identity checks and report suspicious activity — not that your holdings are safe if the firm fails.

Read the [crypto and FSCS protection explanation](https://digital-assets.co.uk/regulation/crypto-not-protected-fscs/) before treating registration as protection for your holdings.

## Visual explanation
Check the firm, the details and the activity
01. Identity: Find the exact legal firm, not just a familiar trading name.
02. Contact details: Compare its website and contact details with the official record.
03. Permissions: Check which activities the record actually covers.
A register entry does not prove that a message came from that firm. Check the identity, contact details and scope together.

## FAQs
### Is every crypto exchange on the FCA register?

Firms providing crypto services to UK customers should be registered. Some offshore platforms operate without UK registration — using them may offer no UK regulatory protection.
### What is the difference between registered and authorised?

Most crypto firms today are registered under money laundering rules. Full authorisation for regulated crypto activities begins from October 2027 under the new FSMA regime.

## Sources

- [FCA — Financial Services Register](https://register.fca.org.uk/)
- [FCA — Cryptoassets for consumers](https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/cryptoassets)
- [FCA — Warning list of unauthorised firms](https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/warning-list-unauthorised-firms)

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— Digital Assets UK (https://digital-assets.co.uk/regulation/check-fca-crypto-register/), reviewed 2026-06-23. Source: https://register.fca.org.uk/