The pulling out of the application is followed by the report of FCA that about 90% of crypto license applicants were not able to meet its standards as of September 2024.
Regardless of pulling out, Copper carries on to witness Europe as one of its major markets with the US and the Middle East.
As per the reports, Copper was not able to tie up a permanent UK registration when the FCA updated its register of crypto asset businesses in 2022.
Copper Technologies, a significant crypto custody firm has pulled out its crypto license application in the United Kingdom. On December 20, the pulling out of the application is done to list with the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom.
The company told a prominent media outlet that the reason behind this is to shift focus to foreign hubs under the new chief executive officer. Headed by ex-UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, the crypto custody firm has positioned itself in one of the biggest crypto businesses in the United Kingdom and has also accumulated millions in investment from Barclays.
What did the ex-CEO say?
The ex-chief executive officer of Copper resigned in October after which banking veteran Amar Kuchinad took his place. As per the reports, Copper was not able to tie up a permanent UK registration when the FCA updated its register of crypto asset businesses in 2022.
After that, the firm started taking its focus on an international level, giving priority to regulatory approvals and licenses in Switzerland, Hong Kong as well as Abu Dhabi. Making the presence of Copper robust in the United States, at the same time growth in Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi, publicized as central to the firm’s global expansion approach in October 2022.
The ex-CEO revealed in a statement on Copper’s UK license application withdrawal that clarifying the global growth strategy of the company has been my priority since the day I onboarded, and this has demanded major decisions on our direction and approach.
He further went on to say that pulling out of the application to list as a crypto asset institution in the United Kingdom is the correct decision for our business and reflects our refocus on boosting growth in priority markets and the growth of our product portfolio.
The revelation of FCA
Regardless of pulling out, Copper carries on to witness Europe as one of its major markets with the US and the Middle East. Kuchinad also mentioned that we are still committed to the United Kingdom, which has been and will carry on to be a key element of the Copper story.
The pulling out of the application is followed by the report of FCA that about 90% of crypto license applicants were not able to meet its standards as of September 2024. In the annual report of this year issued on September 5, the FCA revealed that more than 87% of crypto registrations were pulled out, rejected, or refused for weak money laundering controls.