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This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Statutory Instruments
Financial Services And Markets
Made
8th January 2025
Laid before Parliament
9th January 2025
Coming into force
31st January 2025
The Treasury make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 235(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000( 1).
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) (Amendment) Order 2025.
(2) This Order comes into force on 31st January 2025.
(3) This Order extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
2. In the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001( 2), after paragraph 21( 3) of the Schedule (arrangements not amounting to a collective investment scheme), insert—
22.— (1) Arrangements for qualifying cryptoasset staking do not amount to a collective investment scheme.
(2) In this paragraph—
“ blockchain validation ” means the validation of transactions on—
a blockchain; or
a network that uses distributed ledger technology or other similar technology;
“ qualifying cryptoasset ” has the meaning given by paragraph 26F (qualifying cryptoasset) of Part 2 (controlled investments) of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005( 4) ;
“ qualifying cryptoasset staking ” means the use of a qualifying cryptoasset in blockchain validation. ”.
Anna Turley
Vicky Foxcroft
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury
8th January 2025
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order inserts a new paragraph 22 into the Schedule to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001 ( S.I. 2001/1062) (“ the CIS Order”). The Schedule to the CIS Order specifies the kinds of arrangements which do not amount to a collective investment scheme as defined in section 235 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8).
New paragraph 22 clarifies that arrangements for qualifying cryptoasset staking do not amount to a collective investment scheme. Staking is a consensus mechanism used by “proof of stake” blockchains. Blockchains are distributed ledgers on which various computers performing the function of “validator nodes” collaboratively enter and validate transactions to achieve consensus on the network’s state. Qualifying cryptoasset is defined by reference to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 ( S.I. 2005/1529).
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
S.I. 2001/1062, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.
Paragraph 21 was inserted by S.I. 2001/3650.
S.I. 2005/1529. Paragraph 26F of Part 2 of Schedule 1 was inserted by S.I. 2023/612.