After the UK FCA approval, 21Shares, Bitwise, and WisdomTree open retail investment channels for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs.

According to Mars Finance, after obtaining approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 21Shares, Bitwise, and WisdomTree have opened up Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded products (ETP) investment channels to UK retail investors for the first time. This initiative comes just 12 days after the FCA officially lifted a four-year retail ban on crypto ETNs. 21Shares has launched two physically-backed Bitcoin and Ether ETP products on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), with the Ether ETP featuring a staking yield function and a low fee rate of 0.1% for some products. WisdomTree has also launched its physically-backed Bitcoin and Ether ETP, with rates of 0.15% and 0.35%, respectively; Bitwise will launch similar products on Tuesday, reducing its Core Bitcoin ETP fee to 0.05% for the first six months. In addition, BlackRock has also launched iShares Bitcoin ETP on the LSE. This move by the FCA means that UK retail investors can purchase crypto ETPs through regulated brokers and investment platforms, further aligning the UK market with regions such as the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and the EU. The regulatory body expects to complete a comprehensive crypto regulatory framework covering stablecoins, trading platforms, lending, staking, and custody by 2026.