IG Group Launches Spot Trading for 31 Digital Assets in the UK Amid UK Regulatory Push

• IG Group has become the first firm listed on the London Stock Exchange to offer direct spot trading for 31 digital assets in the U.K.
• Uphold, a U.S.-based financial services company, will be handling all customer transactions.
• The move reflects increasing retail and institutional demand for digital assets in Britain, as the government gears up to regulate the sector.

IG Group, one of the largest online trading firms in the U.K., has announced it will enable British retail investors to buy and sell over 30 individual tokens, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The move marks a significant step toward the maturation of the sector in the U.K., as the market continues to attract increased interest from institutional investors amid government plans for regulation.

It follows a previously cautious stance from the government, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warning in 2021 that British investors should be prepared to “lose all their money” if they get involved with digital assets.

IG Group Launches Spot Trading

Customers can now buy and sell 31 crypto assets through the IG platform, gaining access to established tokens such as Ethereum and Bitcoin, as well as memecoins like Dogecoin.

This is the first time the firm is offering direct crypto spot trading, having previously provided exposure through contracts for difference (CFDs).

The new suite of offerings has been integrated into the IG platform and IG Invest app, allowing customers to seamlessly switch between stock and crypto accounts.

Michael Healy, managing director of IG’s U.K. arm, hailed the development as “a major milestone in the U.K.’s crypto journey.”

U.S. Partnership

The new venture is in partnership with U.S.-based digital asset firm Uphold.

Uphold, regulated in both the U.S. and U.K., will handle all customer transactions and pricing data.

This crypto offering builds upon IG’s existing CFD services, which allow customers to speculate on the price of 11 leading cryptocurrencies.

IG’s announcement signals renewed optimism throughout the sector.

It comes four years after the firm was forced to suspend its retail crypto offering due to a temporary ban on crypto derivatives trading by the FCA.

Growing Demand

Following IG’s recent announcement, Healy emphasized the increasing demand for crypto across the U.K. and beyond:

“Crypto is no longer a fringe asset class,” Healy said . “Our clients want secure, reliable access to digital tokens from a trusted provider—and as a UK-listed, regulated company, we’re ideally placed to meet that need.”

While other U.K. firms like Revolut offer crypto trading, IG Group is the first company listed on the London Stock Exchange to enter the industry.

“Customer demand is reaching a tipping point,” Healy added.

Around 12% of U.K. adults now own or have owned crypto, up from just 4% in 2021, according to the HM Treasury .

Confidence in the sector has grown following last month’s announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlining plans to regulate digital assets.

Reeves said the new regulations would make Britain a “world leader.”