Aave Labs secured UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registration for its Push subsidiaries—Push Labs Limited and Push Virtual Assets Ireland Limited—as cryptoasset exchange providers, expanding the company's regulated operations in Europe. The approval allows Push to conduct crypto-related activities and payment infrastructure operations in the UK, adding to the group's existing FCA Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorization. The registration follows Push Virtual Assets Ireland Limited's November 2025 authorization as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework through the Central Bank of Ireland, enabling passporting of services across the European Economic Area. Aave Labs founder and CEO Stani Kulechov stated the registrations provide the regulatory foundation needed to deliver next-generation, zero-fee on-chain consumer financial products in the UK. The move aligns with the UK's transition toward a comprehensive crypto regulatory regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA), with the FCA preparing a full authorization framework for cryptoasset activities expected to take effect from 2027.
Dual-Permissioned Framework for Cryptoasset and Payment Services
The FCA registration creates a dual-permissioned structure combining Push Labs' existing EMI authorization under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 with the new cryptoasset exchange provider permissions. Push Labs is authorized to issue electronic money in the UK, and the additional registration enables the company to operate fiat-to-crypto infrastructure under regulatory supervision. According to Aave Labs, the approvals will support rollout of zero-fee on and off-ramp services, stablecoin infrastructure, fiat-to-crypto payment systems, and on-chain consumer financial products across the UK and Europe. The structure allows Push to connect blockchain-based financial infrastructure with regulated payment services under UK oversight.
European Expansion Through MiCA and FCA Authorizations
Push Virtual Assets Ireland Limited received CASP authorization from the Central Bank of Ireland in November 2025 under the EU's MiCA framework. The license permits passporting of crypto services across the European Economic Area. The UK FCA registration complements the Irish authorization, expanding Aave Labs' regulated footprint as decentralized finance firms seek formal regulatory status in Europe. The company positions Push as a gateway connecting stablecoins, on-chain payments, consumer finance, and blockchain infrastructure with mainstream financial services.
UK Crypto Regulatory Framework Transition
The FCA is preparing a full authorization framework for cryptoasset activities under FSMA, expected to take effect from 2027. The framework will require firms involved in crypto trading, custody, and related services to obtain formal approval. Firms securing FCA permissions before the framework's implementation may gain strategic positioning as the UK moves toward tighter oversight of digital asset markets. Aave Labs' early acquisition of both electronic money and cryptoasset permissions positions the company to operate in the emerging market for regulated on-chain consumer finance across Europe.
