British IG Group launches crypto trading for retail investors
IG Group launches spot crypto trading for UK retail investors
UK-based financial services firm IG Group has expanded its digital asset offerings by launching spot cryptocurrency trading for retail investors.
Announced on June 2, the new service gives users access to 31 crypto tokens, including major assets like Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and XRP, as well as popular altcoins and memecoins such as Bonk (BONK), reports Cointelegraph.
While IG has long offered crypto exposure via contracts for difference (CFDs), this move marks its direct entry into spot markets, reflecting growing crypto interest in the UK.
Partnership with Uphold Ensures Regulated Access
IG’s new service is powered by Uphold, a U.S. and UK-regulated crypto platform that will handle all customer transactions and provide pricing infrastructure. The integration spans IG’s entire ecosystem, including its IG Invest app, giving users the flexibility to manage crypto and stock portfolios seamlessly. IG UK managing director Michael Healy called the launch “a huge moment for IG” and described it as a “major milestone” in the UK’s crypto evolution, especially as national regulations around digital assets continue to develop.
Revival After 2021 Derivatives Ban
The move into spot crypto follows IG’s previous offering of crypto CFDs, which remain available to institutional clients. Retail access to crypto had been paused in early 2021 after the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) imposed a ban on crypto derivatives. Now, by pivoting to regulated spot trading, IG is reentering the retail crypto space under a more secure and transparent model. This relaunch comes amid renewed momentum for crypto adoption in the UK, driven by government efforts to establish clear regulatory frameworks.
Recently we wrote that during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Mayor Mayor of Panama City Mayor Maier Mizrahi voiced an idea that resonated: ships passing through the Panama Canal could speed up their transit if they paid duties in bitcoin.
