Britain's approach: first build the infrastructure, then promote stablecoin regulations, keep CBDC on hold for now, stay steady

Coin World News reports that the Bank of England stated at the London City Week conference in 2026 that it plans to accelerate the UK's tokenized financial infrastructure while continuing to advance stablecoin regulations and the potential digital pound. Sarah Breeden of the Bank of England said that future UK retail payments should support the coexistence of multiple digital currencies, including tokenized bank deposits, regulated stablecoins, and possibly retail central bank digital currencies. Breeden pointed out that distributed ledger technology can reduce payment costs and dependence on intermediaries, while smart contracts may enable automation and conditional payments within the retail financial system. She added that the Bank of England plans to release draft rules for systemic stablecoins next month and finalize the framework later this year.