Labour Party’s Keir Starmer is UK’s new PM: What can Crypto Lovers Expect?

As a long-time crypto investor, I’ve kept a close eye on the political landscape in the UK regarding cryptocurrencies. Both the Labour and Conservative Parties have had their stances on digital assets during their tenures, but neither party made it a significant talking point during the elections.


The Labour Party has triumphantly secured a large victory in the UK general elections, granting them the power to form a new government. Keir Starmer, their leader, is poised to assume the prime minister role, taking over from Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party. The cryptocurrency community in England eagerly anticipates any significant shifts in the crypto sector that Prime Minister Starmer may introduce.

In the lead-up to elections, there was a notable absence of discussion regarding cryptocurrency from both the Labour and Conservative Parties. This omission left crypto supporters in the community feeling disappointed. The latest debate between Keir Starmer, Labour’s candidate, and incumbent Prime Minister Boris Johnson, failed to touch upon the topic of cryptocurrencies as well.

On Friday morning, as the UK general election vote count began, Keir Starmer and the Labour Party secured 407 seats, surpassing the required majority of 326. In his triumphant address, an ecstatic Starmer announced the dawn of a new era, expressing Labour’s preparedness to lead and cater to the needs of the working population. In a dignified defeat, Rishi Sunak conceded, recognizing the clear mandate of the electorate and marking a significant turning point in British politics.

In the U.K., the Labour Party is anticipated to take control of the government following a 10-year absence. Consequently, financial analysts foresee significant changes in economic strategies, particularly affecting sectors such as digital assets and cryptocurrencies.

Stance of Conservative Party on Crypto

The Conservative Party, which has held power for an extended period, has taken a clear position on cryptocurrencies. They aim to make the UK a leading destination in this field by enacting laws that regulate crypto transactions and engaging in discussions for additional regulations, including those pertaining to stablecoins.

As a researcher studying the intersection of finance and technology, I’ve had the privilege of attending various fintech conferences where Bim Afolami, the former Economic Secretary under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was a prominent speaker. During these engagements, he shared exciting updates about forthcoming government legislation on stablecoins.

Stance of Labour Party on Crypto 

Significantly, the Labour Party expressed approval for the Bank of England’s plan for a digital pound, with potential implementation scheduled between 2025 and 2026, subject to parliamentary legislation. In their election platform, they pledged to foster innovation and fintech as the next generation of financial services, positioning the UK as a leader in artificial intelligence, mapping out a strategy for open finance, and encouraging securities tokenization and central bank digital currencies. The Labour Party also committed to creating a “regulatory sandbox” to facilitate access to financial products for underserved populations. However, the term “crypto” is conspicuously omitted from their manifesto.

With Prime Minister Starmer now in office, the upcoming months will provide greater clarity on whether the Labour Party intends to address the uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in the U.K.

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2024-07-05 11:00