Tokenization · Bitcoin · CryptoSlate
Bank of England’s 24/7 settlement plan shows where tokenized finance can enter core markets
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The Bank of England is laying the groundwork for tokenized finance by fixing the old settlement clock that still governs trillions in payments.
Key facts
- The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 were enacted in February of this year, establishing the full statutory framework for regulating cryptoasset activities
- On May 18, the BoE launched a formal consultation on extending the operating hours of its payments infrastructure, as it works toward a long-term objective of near 24/7 settlement
- The longer-term end-states under review include a 22×6 model and near-continuous 23.5×7 CHAPS settlement, which would bring the central settlement layer into close alignment with the always-on
- Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and stablecoins can cross borders in seconds on a Sunday morning
Summary
Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and stablecoins can cross borders in seconds on a Sunday morning. In 2026, trillions of dollars in financial obligations still move through settlement infrastructure designed around the rhythm of a pre-internet economy, with business hours, weekday cycles, and overnight pauses baked into systems that predate smartphones by decades. That's the problem the Bank of England wants to resolve. They're both part of a coordinated package that also includes a joint tokenization vision from the Bank and the FCA setting out shared principles for digital wholesale markets.