In a move with potential implications for trade finance, the United Kingdom and United States have established a Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future. This initiative is designed to harmonise regulations, ease capital market access, and coordinate oversight of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Although at first glance this may seem tangential to traditional trade finance, the link is growing stronger. As trade finance evolves into digital trade finance, incorporating blockchain, tokenisation of invoices, and programmable payments, crypto regulation becomes relevant. Smoother rules on digital assets and interoperability across UK and U.S. markets could accelerate the adoption of tokenised trade instruments (for example, stablecoin-backed supply chain payments or smart contract documentary credits).

Moreover, cross-border capital flows and foreign exchange liquidity matter deeply to trade finance. If the taskforce reduces friction in capital markets, exporters and importers may find it easier to access working capital or external funding in foreign jurisdictions, thereby lowering the cost of trade financing. Harmonised crypto rules, if they promote safe, regulated channels, may also enable more efficient settlement channels.

On the contra-side, regulators must tread carefully. Rapid liberalisation could open avenues for trade-based money laundering or sanction circumvention. The taskforce must ensure compliance frameworks, KYC/AML (know your customer / anti-money laundering), and transparency protocols are robust.

It appears that the new UK-U.S. collaboration is a significant marker: trade finance providers increasingly see digital asset regulation not as exotic fringe, but as core infrastructure. A favourable regulatory environment could unlock new trade finance modalities; a misstep could expose the sector to novel financial crime risks.

Further information: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/uk-us-smooth-capital-markets-access-crypto-cooperation-2025-09-22/

This article represents the views of the author and not necessarily those of ICC.