What happens to crypto if the owner loses capacity?
What happens to crypto if the owner loses capacity? Crypto does not automatically become accessible when its owner can no longer manage their affairs. The practical outcome depends on two separate questions: who has authority to act for the person, and what is technically needed to reach the assets. An England and Wales property and...
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Why do stablecoin rules involve both the FCA and Bank of England?
Why are both regulators involved? Because a stablecoin can be two things at once: a cryptoasset product issued and used in a market, and a payment arrangement that could matter to the wider financial system if it becomes widely used. The FCA’s role is the broader cryptoasset and conduct perimeter. The Bank of England’s role...
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Can AI-generated screenshots prove a crypto transaction?
Can AI-generated screenshots prove a crypto transaction? No. A screenshot, whether made by a person or generated or edited with AI, is only an image of a claim. It can show what someone wanted you to see, but it does not by itself prove that a payment was sent, received, settled, or controlled by a...
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If a crypto exchange fails, what records help prove your claim?
If a crypto exchange fails, what records help prove your claim? The most useful evidence is a dated record that links you, the exchange account, and the amount or assets you say were owed. Keep the original files where possible: identity and verification records, account statements or exports, transaction history, bank or card records, deposit...
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Why does a familiar face make a crypto scam feel real?
Why does a familiar face make a crypto scam feel real? A familiar face makes a crypto scam feel real because it borrows trust that was earned somewhere else. A celebrity, financial presenter, adviser, colleague or relative may be recognisable, but recognition does not prove that they approved the offer, control the account or sent...
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If I die with crypto, how can my executor find it?
Short answer: an executor usually starts with a discovery record, not a blockchain search. Check exchange and trading-platform accounts, bank and card statements, email, phones and computers, wallet apps, personal papers, and people who helped with the deceased person’s finances. HMRC publishes a similar checklist for personal representatives.[1] Finding evidence of a holding is different...
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Wallet app logout or phone loss: what a recovery phrase can and cannot restore
Wallet app logout or phone loss: what a recovery phrase can and cannot restore A recovery phrase can recreate the keys for a compatible self-custody wallet. It does not automatically restore an app login, a custodial account, every wallet type, or the exact screen you saw before. If a wallet appears empty after a reinstall...
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The ‘free crypto’ seed-phrase gas-fee honeypot scam
The ‘free crypto’ seed-phrase gas-fee honeypot scam A wallet showing a large token balance is not proof that you have been given free crypto. In this scam, someone publishes a recovery phrase that appears to open a funded wallet, then waits for a target to send ETH or another network fee asset so the tokens...
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Seed phrase, private key, public key or address? A safe UK beginner map
Seed phrase, private key, public key or address? A safe UK beginner map A seed phrase is the human-readable backup for an HD wallet. It can be used to recreate the wallet’s key tree, so keep it secret. A private key authorises spending from one Bitcoin key. A public key is the matching public value...
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Can I get my crypto back? The UK evidence-and-reporting checklist after a scam
Can I get my crypto back? The UK evidence-and-reporting checklist after a scam You may be able to report a crypto scam and give useful evidence to your bank, an exchange or the authorities. You should not assume that a report will reverse a blockchain transaction or return the funds. Act quickly, preserve the record...
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UK crypto ATMs: why “there’s a machine nearby” does not mean it is legal
UK crypto ATMs: the short answer A crypto ATM being installed in a shop, petrol station or convenience store does not mean it is lawful to use. The FCA says crypto ATMs offering cryptoasset exchange services in the UK must be registered with the FCA and comply with the UK Money Laundering Regulations. It also...
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The FCA recovered your crypto: recognising a second recovery scam
The FCA recovered your crypto: recognising a second recovery scam If you have already lost money or crypto to a scam, an unexpected message promising to recover it may be a second scam. The sender may claim to be from the FCA, a solicitor, a tracing team, a government body or a firm that has...
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