Three groups, BlackRock, 21Shares and Bitwise, have this morning announced they are launching crypto ETPs to UK retail investors after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) lifted a ban on allowing retail access to crypto exchange traded notes (ETNs) on 8 October.
BlackRock has launched the iShares Bitcoin ETP on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) offering retail investors exposure to the asset class at a total expense ratio (TER) of 15 basis points.
Jane Sloan, EMEA head of global product solutions at BlackRock, commented: “As the UK crypto investor base is projected to approach four million over the next year, today’s listing of exchange traded products like iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) unlock a securer gateway to digital assets through traditional investment platforms.
“Built on institutional-grade infrastructure, IB1T enables UK investors to gain exposure to bitcoin with the confidence of robust custody and regulatory oversight.”
IB1T leverages technology from between Coinbase and BlackRock. Coinbase’s custody system combines physical security, multiparty computation, and strict process controls to secure private keys and client assets, a statement said, the iShares Bitcoin ETP, Coinbase transfers bitcoin in the trading wallet into segregated, offline, cold storage wallets by the end of each day.
The net TER is 15bps per annum including a temporary and partial TER waiver from launch up to and including 31 December 2025. From and including 1 January 2026 onwards, the TER will be 25bps per annum.
See also: Bitwise lists set of crypto ETPs on London Stock Exchange
21Shares
21Shares has also announced the availability of four of its flagship crypto ETPs to retail investors in the UK for the first time following the FCA reduction in restrictions.
Via the LSE, investors can access:
- 1Shares Bitcoin ETP (ABTC)
- 21Shares Core Bitcoin ETP (CBTC)
- 21Shares Ethereum Staking ETP (AETH)
- 21Shares EthereumCore Staking ETP (ETHC)
“Today’s launch represents a landmark step for the UK market and for everyday investors who, for years, have been excluded from regulated crypto products,” said Russell Barlow, CEO of 21Shares.
“We welcome the FCA’s decision, which begins to level the playing field with Europe, where retail investors have long had access to regulated crypto ETPs. This is an important start, but not the finish line – access to Bitcoin and Ethereum is only the first step in building a more comprehensive and innovation-friendly framework for the UK.”
Fees stand at 0.10%.
WisdomTree received FCA approval to make its UK-listed crypto ETPs available to UK retail investors last week,
Bitwise
Thirdly, Bitwise has launched four crypto ETPs for retail investors on LSE offering exposure to Bitcoin and ethereum.
The products listed are:
- Bitwise Core Bitcoin ETP
- Bitwise Physical Bitcoin ETP
- Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP
- Bitwise Physical Ethereum ETP
The TERs have also been cut to 0.05% from 0.20% effective as of today, for six months.
