Regulation
What does this mean for crypto?
During the recent UK general election, the intersection between politics and finance, particularly cryptocurrency, gained attention.
Exit polls suggest a dramatic shift, with Labour likely to take control of the Conservatives for the first time in 14 years. A BBC exit poll published on 4 July predicted that Labour would win 410 seats in Parliament, giving it a significant majority.
Election Results and Projections
The expected victory could position Labour leader Keir Starmer as British prime minister, replacing Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has been in office since October 2022. The Conservatives are expected to hold around 131 seats.
The result, compiled from around 130 polling stations in England, Scotland and Wales – excluding Northern Ireland – could have profound implications for UK economic policies, including those related to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, as Labour could push for innovative financial regulations.
The official election results are expected to be announced on July 5. The proposed change in governance raises questions about the future direction of cryptocurrency policy in the UK.
Source: BBC
Several pro-cryptocurrency MPs, such as Lisa Cameron, who has championed numerous pro-cryptocurrency initiatives, have chosen not to run in the general election. Despite Labour’s imminent victory, experts speculate that substantial crypto policy developments could be delayed.
The House of Commons had been in recess since the election was announced on 30 May and did not resume until 4 July, with another break scheduled for the summer before the start of the autumn party conference season.
Under the conservative regime, The UK has outlined plans to establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, scheduled for release in July.
It remains unclear whether this initiative will continue under a Labour government. Historically, Labour has been reluctant to embrace cryptocurrency and blockchain policies, although there were vague indications in January that it would embrace securities tokenisation and explore a central bank digital currency.
Political landscape and technological growth
The political landscape under the Conservatives, especially under Rishi Sunak, has seen notable advancements in the UK’s crypto ecosystem. For example, Strike recently launched its Bitcoin services in the region.
Furthermore, demand for regulation in the artificial intelligence sector – which is closely linked to Web3 projects – has intensified, suggesting an increased role for digital technologies in the broader economic framework.
🇫🇷🚨🇬🇧🚨🇬🇧 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 🇬🇧🚨🇬🇧🚨🇬🇧
👤 @BimAfolamiThe MP and Economic Secretary to Her Majesty’s Treasury stresses that legislation is being developed to regulate #stablecoins And #stakingwith the aim of finalizing the proposals by the summer holidays (🗓 July 24) 💥
On… pic.twitter.com/GAkBLWAbn4
— Subjective Views (@subjectiveviews) April 15, 2024
Despite Labour’s historically limited discourse on crypto, figures within the party such as Rachel Reeves, the current shadow chancellor, and Tulip Siddiq have shown a proclivity towards the tech sector.
Siddiq even said that Labour aims to transform the UK into a global hub for tokenized assets if it comes to power.
Impact on the blockchain ecosystem
The blockchain ecosystem, which has rapidly evolved to include real-world assets (RWA) and tokenization, is expected to see significant growth.
With Labor’s broad support for industrial and technological growth, his leadership could further strengthen the Web3 sector, an industry that experts say could be worth more than $16 trillion over the next decade.
Several Web3 companies as well as financial giants like BlackRock are already establishing their stakes in this booming field.
Amid these political and economic changes, the feelings of young British voters regarding the future of cryptocurrency have become increasingly relevant.
The general lack of explicit discussion of crypto policies during the election campaign has left many in the community concerned about the direction under the likely new Labour government.
As the Labor Party prepares to take over the country, the crypto community remains in suspense over what potential policies might emerge.
In parallel, The political landscape in other parts of Europe is also experiencing some volatility.illustrated by the early elections called by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The results of the first round on June 30 gave a strong lead to the far-right National Rally party, which leads Macron’s Ensemble coalition, adding an additional layer of uncertainty to the political dynamics in Europe.