As the Minister explained, for centuries the law has recognised two traditional categories of personal property: things in possession, referring to tangible objects such as a bar of gold, and things in action, such as debts or contractual rights enforceable only through legal process. However, the rise of the digital economy has introduced a growing range of assets that defy those historical classifications. From crypto tokens and digital files to in-game items and carbon credits, individuals and businesses now interact with a third category of asset. This Bill introduces that third category of personal property by confirming what the courts have been increasingly willing to suggest: that a thing is not precluded from being treated as property merely because it does not fit the traditional mould. It does so in a deliberately modest way, allowing the common law to evolve with technological change, rather than attempting to predict or prescribe it.
Does Kieran Mullan Support Crypto?
Based on previous comments, Kieran Mullan has indicated they are very pro-cryptocurrency. Below you can view the tweets, quotes, and other commentary Kieran Mullan has made about Bitcoin, Ethereum, and cryptocurrency innovation.
Quoted from hansard.parliament.uk on Jul 16th, 2025