18 May 2026 | 5 – 7pm
The UK has declared its ambition to become a global hub for digital assets. Policymakers have emphasised responsible, principles-led regulation designed to protect consumers and safeguard financial stability. But in a rapidly evolving
global landscape, the defining question may no longer be regulation alone, but ambition.
As jurisdictions such as the United States, the UAE, Singapore and the European Union accelerate their digital asset frameworks, the UK faces a strategic choice. Should it move faster to compete globally, or focus on building
the most trusted regulatory environment for long-term institutional adoption?
This Oxford-style debate, held at the House of Lords, will explore whether the UK is engaged in a global jurisdictional
race for digital financial leadership, or whether its long-term strength lies in refusing to race at all.
The audience will vote before and after the debate.
The UK must move faster to remain globally competitive
The UK is competing directly with jurisdictions such as the United States, the UAE and Singapore for leadership in digital finance. In this environment, regulatory speed, clarity and international competitiveness are not secondary
considerations. They are strategic levers.
Without faster authorisation processes, clearer frameworks and a more enabling stance on areas such as stablecoins,
tokenised assets and blockchain infrastructure, the UK risks becoming a high-quality but ultimately peripheral market
in digital finance. Leadership requires visible ambition, regulatory confidence and the willingness to move at pace.
The UK’s strength lies in trust, stability and institutional credibility
Long-term leadership in digital finance cannot be built on velocity alone. In a sector prone to cycles, failures and systemic
risk, the UK’s comparative advantage lies in its deep capital markets, institutional credibility, legal certainty and
regulatory coherence.
Measured, principles-led regulation may not be the fastest route. But it may be the one that attracts the most durable, institutional-grade activity over time. Leadership requires stability, trust and resilience.
Alun Cairns is a business consultant advising a range of international companies. A former UK Cabinet member and Member of Parliament for 14 years, he served three Prime Ministers as Secretary of State for Wales, government whip, and minister. He was also a member of the UK Board of Trade.
As a backbencher, Alun held leadership roles in several All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including Blockchain, Energy Security, Crypto and Digital Assets, and Qatar.
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