UK Takes Third Place in Global Bitcoin Adoption Ranking

The UK has taken third place in the global Bitcoin adoption ranking, according to the JAN3 Bitcoin Index. The country's score of 6.44 and BB rating are due to its composite approach to Bitcoin policy, which includes national Bitcoin holdings, state mining, legal treatment, tax treatment, strategic-reserve policy, pro-Bitcoin political leadership, and the extent to which Bitcoin can be used in the economy.

The JAN3 index cited roughly 61,000 BTC in government custody as one reason for the UK's score. However, authorities cannot keep this amount as a reserve because it is classified as seized criminal property subject to court proceedings.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that more than 60,000 BTC was seized in a major investment fraud and money laundering case, describing it as alleged criminal property. The ownership distinction is also explicit in the government's statements, which confirm that there are no plans to change the seized-asset or official-reserve frameworks.

The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act, which took effect on December 2, 2025, removed a categorical obstacle that could prevent certain digital or electronic things from being treated as personal property. The Financial Conduct Authority also permitted retail access to qualifying crypto exchange-traded notes on approved UK exchanges from October 8, 2025.