TrustCrypto Institute
TCCA Reading List
Recommended external materials for examination preparation. Public sources only.
Version 2.6.0 ā¢ Effective 1 January 2026 ā¢ Last reviewed February 2026
TCCA Reading List
Recommended Materials for Examination Preparation
Version: 2.6.0 (Final ā Controlled Scope)
Effective: 1 January 2026
Last Review: 1 January 2026
š TrustCrypto Institute Guides (PRIMARY ā AUTHORITATIVE)
Institute Frameworks are the authoritative reference for the TCCA examination.
All examination content, marking criteria, and model answers are derived from TrustCrypto Institute frameworks. External materials are supplementary and provided for contextual understanding only.
Domain 4.2: Portfolio Construction and Risk Management
TrustCrypto Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Framework v1.0
š Available: TrustCrypto Institute Learning Portal
ā±ļø Study Time: 14 hours
Coverage:
- Modern Portfolio Theory applied to cryptoassets
- Strategic allocation framework:
- Conservative: 0ā2%
- Moderate: 2ā5%
- Aggressive: 5ā10%
- Speculative: >10%
- Volatility analysis (crypto vs traditional assets)
- Time-varying correlations and stress behaviour
- Rebalancing strategies (calendar, threshold, hybrid)
- Within-crypto diversification
- Client suitability and documentation standards
Domain 4.4: UK Regulatory Obligations
TrustCrypto Financial Promotions & Advisory Framework v1.0
š Available: TrustCrypto Institute Learning Portal
ā±ļø Study Time: 8 hours
Coverage:
- FCA October 2023 cryptoasset promotional ban
- Section 21 FSMA approval gateway
- Mandatory risk warnings and placement rules
- Distinction between promotions and one-to-one advice
- Prohibited practices (guaranteed returns, urgency tactics, celebrity endorsements)
- Best practice for compliant client communications
Domain 4.5: Professional Ethics
TrustCrypto Code of Professional Conduct v1.0
š Available: TrustCrypto Institute Learning Portal
ā±ļø Study Time: 2 hours
Coverage:
- 7 Core Principles:
- Integrity and Honesty
- Professional Competence
- Confidentiality and Data Protection
- Independence and Objectivity
- Client and Customer Protection
- Regulatory Cooperation
- Professional Responsibility
- Crypto-specific ethical scenarios
- Conflicts of interest management
- CPD obligations (20 hours annually)
Domain 4.1: Cryptocurrency Fundamentals (20%)
Core Blockchain Concepts
Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (Satoshi Nakamoto, 2008)
š https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
ā±ļø Study Time: 4 hours
Coverage:
- Blockchain structure
- Proof-of-Work consensus
- Double-spend prevention
- UTXO transaction model
Ethereum Whitepaper
š https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/
ā±ļø Study Time: 3 hours
Coverage:
- Smart contract functionality
- Account-based model vs UTXO
- State transitions
- Decentralised application architecture
Market Structure
IOSCO: Decentralized Finance Report (2022)
š https://www.iosco.org/library/pubdocs/pdf/IOSCOPD699.pdf
ā±ļø Study Time: 3 hours
Coverage:
- DeFi vs CeFi market structure
- Liquidity pools and AMMs
- Systemic and operational risk considerations
Asset Classification
FCA Guidance on Cryptoassets (PS19/22)
š https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/policy/ps19-22.pdf
ā±ļø Study Time: 4 hours
Coverage:
- Exchange tokens, utility tokens, security tokens
- Regulatory perimeter
- What falls inside vs outside FCA regulation
Domain 4.2: Portfolio & Risk (Additional Context)
Portfolio risk concepts including volatility, correlation, drawdowns, and stress behaviour are fully covered in the TrustCrypto Portfolio Construction & Risk Management Framework.
Candidates are not required to consult external central bank research for examination preparation.
Domain 4.3: Custody & Security (20%)
IOSCO: Custody of Crypto-Assets Report
š https://www.iosco.org/library/pubdocs/pdf/IOSCOPD715.pdf
ā±ļø Study Time: 6 hours
Coverage:
- Self-custody vs third-party custody
- Private key management
- Multi-signature arrangements
- Segregation of client assets
- Audit, governance, and insurance considerations
Optional Background Reading (Not Examinable)
NIST IR 8202: Securing Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology
š https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8202
ā±ļø Optional
Note: This document provides deep technical cybersecurity context. It is not required for the TCCA examination, which focuses on advisory suitability, custody risk awareness, and client communication rather than system architecture or threat modelling.
Total Study Hours: 44 hours
Breakdown:
- Institute Guides: 24 hours (PRIMARY)
- Blockchain Fundamentals: 14 hours
- Custody & Security: 6 hours
CPD Hours Awarded: 30 hours
Examination Scope Clarification
The TCCA examination assesses the ability to:
- Apply Institute standards to client scenarios
- Exercise professional judgement
- Communicate cryptoasset risks clearly and compliantly
- Evidence suitability and risk-adjusted decision-making
The examination does not test:
- Academic economic theory
- Central bank research publications
- Systems engineering or cryptographic design
- Cybersecurity implementation frameworks
External materials are provided for professional context only and do not expand the examinable syllabus beyond published learning outcomes.
TrustCrypto Institute
š§ exams@trustcrypto.co.uk