UK Stock Market Launches Bitcoin ETPs for Retail Investors, Yet the Crypto Wallet Still Reigns
After years of waiting, UK retail investors can now finally invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded products (ETPs). The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has approved several Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs for trading on the London Stock Exchange, representing a big change in how the UK approaches crypto investing.
Until recently, these products were available only to professional or institutional investors, and banned for retail investors. But as of Monday 20th October 2025, everyday investors can now access a range of crypto ETPs, managed by firms such as WisdomTree, 21Shares, Bitwise, and BlackRock.
It means that the UK might now be able to catch up with markets like the United States and parts of Europe, where Bitcoin ETFs have already drawn billions in investment from both individuals and institutions.
A Big Moment for Crypto’s Place in the UK Market
The new listings give retail investors a familiar way to gain some exposure to Bitcoin without needing to use a crypto exchange. Each ETP is physically backed, meaning the issuer (not the individual) holds real Bitcoin or Ethereum in custody. Investors can buy and sell these products through their normal brokerage accounts, just like stocks or traditional ETFs.
It’s big news for the UK, which has arguably been held back by the FCA’s overly cautious position on crypto. The FCA’s decision signals growing trust in how established financial firms can handle digital assets safely and transparently.
ETFs, ETPs, and ETNs Explained
It can be annoying the amount of acronyms that are thrown around so let’s take a moment to define them.
- ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): Holds actual assets such as Bitcoin, stocks, or gold.
- ETP (Exchange-Traded Product): A general term that covers ETFs, ETNs, and ETCs.
- ETN (Exchange-Traded Note): A debt instrument that tracks an asset’s price, but does not always hold it directly.
Basically, the Bitcoin and Ethereum products now listed on the London Stock Exchange act much like ETFs, giving investors a listing to buy that correlates to crypto assets. It’s the asset management company that actually holds custody of the crypto for the retail investor.
Why Are Some Investors Excited?
For traditional investors, this is the first time they can include crypto in their portfolios through their normal brokerage, or stocks account. These ETPs trade on the London Stock Exchange and can be held in standard investment accounts, making Bitcoin exposure as simple as buying a stock.
It also means investors can avoid crypto exchanges and repetitive KYC checks. Everything runs through their stocks account, with a familiar interface and institutional security.
Most of the newly listed ETF products will have discounted fees until early next year in order to encourage early buyers.
The Crypto Wallet Still Reigns
While Bitcoin ETFs and ETPs may make investing easier for traditional investors, they remove one of the core principles of crypto: ownership. When you buy Bitcoin through an ETF, you don’t hold the private keys. The custodian or asset management company holds the Bitcoin for you, which means your access depends on the fund and its operating rules.
You’re also limited by stock exchange hours. Bitcoin itself trades nonstop, but ETFs can only be traded when markets are open. For investors used to crypto’s always-on nature, that feels restrictive. Especially on public holidays, days when the stock exchange closes.
If you wanted to sell for example during the recent crypto flash crash which happened on a Friday evening, you wouldn’t have been able to had your money been tied up in an ETF.
The rise of Bitcoin ETFs shows how far crypto has come in joining traditional finance. But it also should remind investors what makes crypto unique. True ownership still belongs to those who hold their own Bitcoin directly in a crypto wallet, where they control the keys, the access, and the freedom to trade anytime.
Among the top brands that offer these perks without sacrificing functionality and convenience is Best Wallet. A no-KYC, self-custodial wallet, Best Wallet delivers full control and better protection that investors need to navigate the crypto market with confidence. That feature alone makes it more reliable than centralized exchanges, where users don’t control private keys and must trust the security of the platforms, which may sometimes fail.
Another edge that Best Wallet has over CEXes is that it allows users to store, buy, trade, and swap thousands of assets without undergoing identity verification, reinforcing its appeal among those who prefer financial privacy.
Security is powered by advanced tools like Fireblocks, which leverages non-custodial MPC technology to safeguard every asset within the wallet. Hence, unlike most self-custodial wallets, it can be said that users of Best Wallet aren’t left alone to shoulder the responsibility of securing their funds.
Other than its security aspect and associated features, Best Wallet is also turning heads with its all-in-one toolkit, featuring modern functionalities like fiat payments, cross-chain swaps, staking perks, portfolio management, and even a token launchpad.
It’s little wonder why it has gathered a user base of over 500,000, with a 50% MoM growth rate within a year of going live. Popular voices in the industry, including analysts at 99Bitcoins – a crypto YouTube channel with over 720k subscribers – continue to praise the wallet’s versatility, describing it as a significant player in the next generation of the DeFi space.
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