The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Finally Approves Bitcoin-based ETP Trading, Allowing BlackRock to Launch its iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) on the London Stock Exchange.
This product, already listed on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, and Paris, provides a regulated exposure to Bitcoin without direct ownership, paving the way for British investors.
21Shares simultaneously launches four new crypto ETPs, while this approval marks a significant political step for the UK’s crypto strategy.
Bitcoin Makes its Debut in the City
Behind this launch lies a major policy shift: the FCA has just eased its ban on crypto-related derivative products. As a result, British investors can now access Bitcoin through a regulated framework, without holding the crypto directly. This revolutionizes a market that has long been closed to individuals.
Under the ticker IB1T, the new ETP allows buying exposure to Bitcoin in full compliance, like any listed stock. The product is already familiar to European investors, as it has been available since March on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, and Euronext Paris.
A Symbolic Victory for Crypto Finance
BlackRock, managing over $13 trillion in assets, continues its digital finance offensive. Its flagship ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), remains the global benchmark, with $85 billion in assets under management, far ahead of Fidelity’s FBTC with $22 billion.
The London launch comes after months of market anticipation, eager to see the UK join the movement already underway in Europe and the United States. In just one hour of trading, 1,000 IB1T shares changed hands, a promising start reflecting the growing appetite of institutional investors for digital assets.
21Shares Also Joins the Dance
In parallel, 21Shares, based in Switzerland, has also launched four new products for British investors: ABTC and AETH (based on Bitcoin and Ethereum staking), as well as two ‘Core’ versions with reduced fees (CBTC and ETHC) with only 0.10% management fees.
For CEO Russel Barlow, lifting the ban is a turning point: “This launch finally brings the British market in line with the rest of Europe.”
A Strong Signal for Europe’s Crypto
BlackRock’s entry on the London Stock Exchange is not just a commercial success. It is a political and financial signal: the UK aims to catch up in crypto regulation and attract digital capital.
