European Union
MiCA, the Transfer of Funds Regulation, the DLT Pilot Regime and the new EU anti-money laundering authority.
- Framework
- MiCA plus transfer-of-funds and AML rules
- Supervision
- National authorities, with ESMA and the EBA
Crypto-asset regulation by region
How major jurisdictions and international bodies approach crypto-assets. Each brief names the supervisor and the main law, and links to official sources.
Overview for education, not legal advice. Rules change — check the official sources. Last reviewed 20 October 2026.
United Kingdom
FCA registration for anti-money laundering, the financial promotions regime since October 2023, and a broader regime being phased in.
- Framework
- Financial promotion rules and Money Laundering Regulations; wider regime legislated in stages
- Supervision
- Financial Conduct Authority (HM Treasury sets policy)
United States
Securities and commodities law, federal anti-money laundering rules, state licences and a federal stablecoin statute.
- Framework
- Existing securities, commodities, AML and state laws; federal stablecoin statute (2025)
- Supervision
- SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, state regulators
Switzerland
A technology-neutral approach: the 2021 DLT Act adapted existing laws, and FINMA classifies tokens by their function.
- Framework
- DLT Act (2021) adapting existing financial market, civil and insolvency law
- Supervision
- FINMA (plus AML self-regulatory organisations)
Singapore
Licensing of digital payment token services under the Payment Services Act, strict limits on marketing, and a stablecoin framework.
- Framework
- Payment Services Act 2019; Financial Services and Markets Act 2022; MAS stablecoin framework
- Supervision
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
Japan
One of the first registration regimes for crypto exchanges, tightened after major hacks, with stablecoin rules since 2023.
- Framework
- Payment Services Act and Financial Instruments and Exchange Act
- Supervision
- Financial Services Agency (FSA), with the JVCEA as self-regulatory body
United Arab Emirates
Several regulators in one country: VARA in Dubai, federal authorities, and separate regimes in two financial free zones.
- Framework
- Several frameworks: VARA in Dubai, federal SCA and Central Bank rules, ADGM and DIFC regimes
- Supervision
- VARA, SCA, Central Bank of the UAE, FSRA (ADGM), DFSA (DIFC)
International standards
The FATF travel rule, the Basel Committee's standard for banks, and the FSB and IOSCO recommendations behind national laws.
- Framework
- Global standards — binding only once adopted in national law
- Supervision
- FATF, Basel Committee, FSB, IOSCO, OECD
See them side by side
The world map compares every region's framework, supervisor and status in one table.