Catenaa, Thursday, October 23, 2025- Crypto asset managers 21Shares, Bitwise, and WisdomTree have opened UK retail access to their Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded products following the Financial Conduct Authority’s removal of a four-year retail ban.
The launch allows ordinary investors to buy the ETPs on London Stock Exchange through standard brokerage accounts and tax wrappers.
21Shares listed physically backed Bitcoin and Ethereum products on Monday, featuring a staking component for Ethereum ETPs and a reduced 0.1% fee for select offerings. The firm previously offered these products to institutional investors, capturing 70% of LSE turnover. CEO Russell Barlow described the move as a landmark step for UK retail investors.
WisdomTree also listed its physically backed Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs, with fees of 0.15% and 0.35%, respectively. The company highlighted that the listings demonstrate how regulated channels now provide transparency and secure access to digital assets.
Bitwise announced its Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs would trade on the LSE Tuesday, reducing the fee for its Core Bitcoin ETP to 0.05% for six months. Bradley Duke, head of Bitwise Europe, said the expansion opens access to Europe’s largest investment market.
BlackRock added its iShares Bitcoin ETP to the LSE Monday, citing the UK’s retail crypto base, projected to reach four million in the next year, as a driver for broader adoption through regulated investment platforms.
The FCA’s updated guidance allows retail investors to access crypto ETPs while maintaining restrictions on broader crypto derivatives. The regulator’s phased approach seeks to promote a global hub for digital assets while prioritizing investor protection.
Full implementation of the crypto roadmap, including stablecoins, lending, staking, and custody rules, is expected in 2026.
