King Charles III Seals UK’s New Digital Property Era with Landmark Crypto Law

The United Kingdom has officially entered a new chapter of digital finance after King Charles III granted Royal Assent to the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025 — a landmark law that elevates cryptocurrencies and other digital assets into a newly defined class of property.

The legislation, which moved through both chambers of Parliament without a single amendment, establishes digital assets like bitcoin and stablecoins as property in their own right, finally separating them from legacy categories such as physical goods or contract-based claims.

Crypto advocates say the legal clarity is transformative. “The UK now has a third, distinct property category — and that means the sats you hold are legally protected,” said Susie Ward, CEO of Bitcoin Policy UK. Her colleague, Chief Policy Officer Freddie New, called the reform “potentially the most significant shift in English property law since medieval times.”

The push for reform began with a 2023 recommendation from the Law Commission, culminating in the bill’s introduction to the House of Lords in September 2024. Industry groups like CryptoUK say courts have already been treating crypto as property in practice, but codifying it into statute provides a more durable legal foundation. According to the group, the new framework will simplify proving ownership, recovering stolen tokens, and handling digital assets in cases of insolvency or inheritance.

This legal milestone comes as UK regulators accelerate efforts to modernize their broader digital-asset framework. The Bank of England is currently consulting on a regime for sterling-based stablecoins, positioning the country for a future where digital money powers routine payments. Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden said the UK intends to move “just as quickly as the U.S.” in establishing stablecoin rules, signaling a tightening race for regulatory leadership in the crypto space.

With property law clarity now secured, the UK is preparing for a more regulated — and more confident — digital economy.