IG Group, a leading online trading firm, has become the first UK-listed company to offer retail investors direct access to crypto trading. This milestone marks a bold step toward mainstreaming digital assets in the UK, as IG Group launches spot trading for 31 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. With customer demand surging, this development signals a new era for crypto in mainstream finance.
IG Group Breaks Ground in the UK
IG Group has integrated crypto spot trading into its platform and IG Invest app, allowing seamless switching between stock and crypto accounts. This follows years of offering crypto exposure through contracts for difference (CFDs), which let investors speculate on price movements without owning the assets. In 2021, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) temporarily banned retail crypto derivatives, forcing IG to pause such offerings.
Now, with regulatory clarity emerging, IG has partnered with Uphold, a US and UK-regulated crypto platform, to launch this service. The partnership ensures compliance with strict FCA standards on transparency, consumer protection, and operational resilience. Michael Healy, IG’s UK managing director, says it is a major milestone for the UK’s crypto journey, reflecting the firm’s commitment to meeting regulatory demands while expanding access.
The FCA’s evolving framework, set to fully regulate crypto by 2026, requires firms to report transactions and protect investors, ensuring IG’s offering aligns with these rules. This move positions the firm as a trusted, regulated player in a sector plagued by scams.
UK Provides a Crypto-Friendly Environment
The UK has proven to be one of the fastest-growing global hubs for digital assets in recent times, with firms rushing in to offer their crypto investment services and Bitcoin purchases. For instance, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, recently made a significant entry into the virtual market by securing authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer crypto services in the United Kingdom.
Galaxy Digital UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Galaxy Digital, also recently secured approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to execute derivatives trading through its London office. This milestone marks a significant expansion of Galaxy’s global trading operations and strengthens its commitment to operating within the laid-down regulatory frameworks.
