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UK ranks third in Bitcoin adoption, but custody rules bar reserves
The UKs JAN3 cited roughly 61,000 BTC in law-enforcement custody as seized criminal property, with court and confiscation proceedings determining whether any coins can be sold or paid to victims.
The UK placed third in the 2025 JAN3 Bitcoin adoption rankings, scoring 6.44 and earning a BB rating after the index weighed policy progress and more than 60,000 BTC held in law-enforcement custody.
CryptoSlate reports that UK records treat the coins as seized criminal property tied to court proceedings, not as a government strategic Bitcoin reserve. A March 2026 UK Treasury answer said neither central government nor the government held cryptoassets at that time, and a prior response described no plans to change the seized-asset or official-reserve frameworks or commission a review of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
The article also cites the Crown Prosecution Service confirmation that authorities seized more than 60,000 Bitcoin in a major investment fraud and money laundering case, with the disposition set to be determined by confiscation and civil proceedings. It notes that guidance describes seizure as a temporary step while cases proceed, and that after a court order the assets could be sold to compensate victims or directed to the public purse and economic-crime enforcement.
Regulatory changes cited include the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act taking effect on Dec. 2, 2025, removing an obstacle to treating certain digital assets as personal property, and the Financial Conduct Authority allowing retail access to qualifying crypto exchange-traded notes on approved UK exchanges starting Oct. 8, 2025. The broader crypto regulatory regime is described as beginning in 2027.
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