UK$BTC Rules Out Bitcoin Reserves, Focuses on Crypto Regulation and Innovation

The UK Treasury has made it clear it has no intention of building a national Bitcoin reserve. Speaking at the Financial Times Digital Asset Summit in London, Economic Secretary Emma Reynolds said that unlike the United States, Britain doesn't see a national crypto reserve as suitable for its financial system.

“That approach might work for the U.S.$ETH , but it’s not aligned with our goals,” she said. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has shifted toward accumulating Bitcoin at the federal level—a notable departure from previous administrations. But the UK isn’t following that trend.

Instead, British official$BTC are prioritizing crypto regulation over crypto accumulation. Reynolds emphasized that while the UK values international collaboration, especially with the U.S., it won't be mirroring America’s crypto policies. A new joint task force between the UK and U.S. Treasuries will meet this June to coordinate regulatory strategies.

Though the UK isn't investing in Bitcoin reserves, it is exploring blockchain technology. The Treasury is working on issuing government bonds using distributed ledger systems. The procurement process is underway, with a technology partner expected to be chosen by late summer.

Reynolds also dismissed adopting the European Union’s stringent Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, describing it as overly rigid. Instead, she said the UK prefers a more flexible, outcome-driven legal system. The UK plans to regulate crypto under existing financial rules, applying the principle of “same risk, same regulation.”

However, Reynolds acknowledged the limitations of government control over decentralized assets like Bitcoin, noting, “There are parts of the crypto ecosystem we simply can’t fully regulate.”