FCA Cuts Active Probes Nearly in Half as It Prioritizes Faster, High-Impact Enforcement

On 2 January 2026, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority was reported to have sharply reduced its open investigations since 2022, closing about 100 cases without taking formal enforcement action. By October 2025, active probes had dropped to 124 from more than 230, while the regulator shifted toward fewer, faster moving cases that can deliver clearer outcomes and substantial penalties. The FCA has still issued more actions than its long-term average in the past two years, concentrating on major anti-money laundering and compliance failures as it prepares for new cryptoasset and conduct rules from 2026 onward.