The UK and US are harmonizing stablecoin rules for cross-border market access

The United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to pursue closer cooperation in regulating stablecoins, cross-border payments and tokenized financial markets.

The two governments also plan to explore how regulated stablecoins issued in one country can gain access to another market.

The commitments come from a joint UK-US statement on stablecoins issued on July 14. This statement is part of the recommendations from the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which the two governments established in September 2025.

The UK and US set common stablecoin goals

The two governments say stablecoins can support payments, settlements and money market transactions when regulators implement appropriate safeguards. They plan to seek “comparable results for similar accidents and activities” while allowing each country to develop requirements under its own legal framework.

This method does not require the same rules. Instead, officials want to reduce unnecessary tensions that can hinder cross-border activity. Governments also said they would avoid regulations that set costs in proportion to risks or create unnecessary barriers to new competitors.

As reported by crypto.news, the agreement comes as stablecoin regulations remain a major policy issue in Washington. American lawmakers and banking groups continue to debate how digital dollar products should interact with traditional banks and financial markets.

Stablecoins must maintain a support of at least 1:1

The joint statement says that stablecoins introduced as currency must hold at least one dollar or its equivalent in high-quality liquid assets for every unit issued. Each country will decide which reserved goods qualify under the domestic framework.

Issuers must also segregate the assets held in their corporate portfolios. Governments say owners should receive timely redemption and clear information about their legal rights. In the failure of the issuer, the owners must have a secured claim against the reserves, including more important than other creditors where local law allows.

The regulations are broadly consistent with the US stablecoin regulatory approach under the GENIUS Act. The Treasury Department began proposing regulations for use in 2026 as the United States prepares its government framework for stablecoin issuers.

Governments are testing stablecoin access across borders

The UK and the US plan to explore a clear mechanism that would allow stablecoins regulated in either jurisdiction to reach customers and markets in the other. Any access programs will remain subject to each country’s laws and regulatory procedures.

Both governments also support fair, risk-based access to banking and other financial services for legally regulated digital asset companies. They said stablecoins could serve as payment instruments in securities and commodities markets when firms meet the necessary safeguards.

The statement does not create an automatic recognition or endorsement of any particular stablecoin for border distribution. Regulators still need to develop the procedures and legal standards needed to implement the system.

Token currencies are part of a broader partnership

The deal goes beyond stablecoins. Under the broad recommendations of the Transatlantic Taskforce, the two countries plan to work with a private sector group to explore the use of tokenized border goods over a year.

The SEC, CFTC, FCA and the Bank of England will also seek common measures in areas including the payment of token securities and the possible use of stablecoins or token money market funds as securities in clearing houses.

The recommendations leave both countries free to complete their regulatory processes. Their stated goal is to reduce cross-border friction while providing regulated stablecoins and tokenized financial products with clear paths between the world’s two largest financial markets.