UK and US Launch Joint Taskforce to Ease Capital Market Access and Regulate Digital Assets

The United Kingdom and the United States have joined forces to make it easier for businesses to raise funds on both sides of the Atlantic. Britain’s finance ministry announced on Monday that the two governments are creating the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, a platform designed to cut red tape and improve market access for companies while stepping up cooperation on crypto assets and other emerging financial technologies.

According to the ministry, the new taskforce will publish its first report within 180 days. The report will set out practical steps for short-term collaboration and map out long-term opportunities in areas such as wholesale digital markets. The initiative was formally endorsed by UK finance minister Rachel Reeves and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during President Donald Trump’s recent state visit to Britain.

The joint body will be co-chaired by officials from both countries’ finance ministries and will bring in key financial regulators to ensure policies are workable in practice. UK officials say the move underscores their commitment to keeping London attractive as a financial hub after years of market uncertainty, while US officials stress it will help businesses on both sides benefit from deeper, more efficient capital markets.

Britain has struggled to maintain its financial services dominance in Europe since the 2016 Brexit vote, with several high-profile firms moving their primary listings to the United States. By forging a closer partnership with Washington, the UK hopes to revive investor confidence and show it is open for business—particularly in the fast-growing digital assets sector, where regulatory clarity has become a key competitive edge.

Unlike the European Union, which has introduced new laws specifically for crypto, Britain is taking a more flexible approach by applying existing financial rules to digital assets. Analysts say the new taskforce could not only streamline regulations for cross-border companies but also promote innovation and help the UK and US stay ahead in setting global standards for next-generation financial markets.

source: punch