British lobbies are calling for blockchain technology to be included in the UK-US Tech Bridge with the goal of aligning stablecoin regulation and promoting joint projects in supply chains and data management. The initiative, led by CryptoUK and Innovate Finance, seeks to attract investment and avoid a loss of international competitiveness, with a direct impact on crypto companies, institutional treasuries, and transatlantic regulators.
Context and Diverging Positions
Pro-blockchain organizations have urged the UK government to make this technology a pillar of the Tech Bridge with the United States. With CryptoUK and Innovate Finance at the forefront, they advocate for regulatory harmonization on stablecoins and for the development of practical projects such as pharmaceutical traceability through blockchain and data-sharing platforms for scientific research. One lobby source stated that digital assets are a strategically relevant sector, highlighting their potential for supply chain efficiency, data interoperability, and venture capital attraction. However, they stress that these advantages require security investments and clear legal frameworks.
On the U.S. side, the stance is more cautious. Both the Department of Commerce and NIST acknowledge blockchain’s potential, but regulators and parts of the banking sector remain wary. Technical risks are emphasized, such as attacks on cross-chain bridges, with the Ronin Bridge incident—which caused a $600 million loss—serving as a warning of the need for robust protocols. Regulatory risks also persist, as the divergence between the SEC in the United States and the FCA in the United Kingdom could complicate the cross-border adoption of stablecoins and tokenization initiatives.
Strategic Implications
Integrating blockchain into the Tech Bridge could accelerate joint pilots and attract foreign investment, while at the same time requiring measures to mitigate legal and technical risks. For traders and treasuries, the challenge lies in evaluating regulated counterparties versus private issuers, while for regulators the task is to design interoperable standards that do not open the door to regulatory arbitrage.
The sector’s pressure comes amid ongoing technical and political negotiations over the Tech Bridge and raises a choice between competitive momentum and risk control. The Ronin Bridge precedent, involving a $600 million exploit, underscores the need for security protocols and regulatory coordination before transatlantic projects can be scaled.
