Hargreaves-Lansdown, the UK’s leading retail investment platform, opened up access to nine Bitcoin exchange traded notes and Ether on September 3. This allows eligible investors to gain exposure to regulated cryptocurrency.
The following is a summary of the information that you will find on this page.
- Hargreaves Lansdown, through its Advanced Investing services, added nine Bitcoin ETNs as well as Ether ETNs.
- About two million Platform clients will be able to access the products once they have successfully completed investor protection checks.
- Investors are required to self-certify.
- In October 2025, the FCA will reopen eligible crypto ETNs for retail investors under national safeguards.
- These ETNs allow investors to track the price of Bitcoin and Ether without having direct ownership.
Financial Times reports that the products include those from BlackRock iShares’ WisdomTree and 21Shares as well as Invesco CoinShares Bitwise. report. Annual product fees range from 0% up to 0.35 %.
Hargreaves Lansdown is a financial services company that serves around two million clients. The crypto ETNs, however, are available only through the Advanced Investing Service and not to all customers.
Hargreaves Lansdown finally adds Crypto after a long wait
It is almost eleven months since Financial Conduct Authority removed the four-year ban on accessing crypto ETNs for retail investors. Other British major investment platforms have already launched the products.
Hargreaves Lansdown took a cautious approach at first. The platform informed investors in October 2025 that “Bitcoin is not an asset class,” While acknowledging that there may be customers who still wish to have speculative exposure.
Doug Abbott said that Hargreaves Lansdown delayed the launch of its platform to make sure client testing and safety safeguards are properly designed. He stated that customers must understand products and be exposed to them. “right level of friction” Prior to investing in any business, it is important that you understand the risks involved.
Crypto ETNs are the company’s most current product. page The warning states that these instruments carry a high level of risk and volatility. Investors could lose their entire investment.
Investors are subject to eligibility tests and waiting periods
The customer must then self-certify that they are an advanced investor. The customer must complete an online assessment to determine if they are aware of the risks and products.
Before viewing ETNs, eligible customers are required to complete a 24 hour cooling off period. The customer must have a fund and share account or a personal self-invested pension in order to purchase, hold or dispose of the instrument.
Hargreaves Lansdown charges a 0.35% annual platform fee for holding crypto ETNs, capped at £12.50 per month. Dealing charges range from £3.95 to £6.95, depending on the customer’s trading frequency. These fees are distinct from the product management fee.
Notes are traded during London Stock Exchange trading hours. The exchanges do not offer continuous trading 24 hours a day like the cryptocurrency exchanges.
The crypto ETNs allow exposure to the market without ownership.
These listed instruments track the price movement of digital assets. Investors buy a crypto ETN issued by an institution, rather than directly buying Bitcoin or Ether.
The cryptocurrency is held by the issuer. Customers do not manage their wallets, control their private keys and cannot withdraw any digital assets.
This structure carries different risks than direct cryptocurrency ownership. Investors are dependent on their issuer, custody, trading platform, and investment platform. Market spreads, product fees and other factors can cause returns to be different from the movements of an underlying asset.
Crypto.news has previously reported this. BlackRock listed its Bitcoin product on the London Stock Exchange The retail restrictions were changed. As regulated providers prepare for greater individual access, the listing was one of several new products.
FCA regulations restrict platforms’ ability to offer crypto ETNs
On Oct. 8, 2020, the FCA will lift its retail ban on crypto ETNs that meet certain criteria. The products must be listed on the official list of the UK regulator and traded through an investment exchange recognized in Britain.
The products are classified as investments restricted to mass market. The official guidance The law requires that appropriateness assessment, categorization of customers, cooling off periods, and clear risk warnings be conducted.
Platforms can’t offer customers incentives to invest. The platforms must identify a suitable target market, and they should take reasonable steps to protect consumers from harm that is foreseeable.
Crypto.news reported that the FCA announced the policy when it was first announced. reopened retail access while keeping crypto derivatives prohibited. According to the regulator, investors will not get the same protections as with conventionally regulated investment.
Demand is still an open question
Hargreaves Lansdown reported that it received consistent customer inquiries about ETNs in crypto, especially from more experienced investors. This interest is not enough to determine how many clients are eligible.
The British retail market is described as being modest by other platforms. The restrictions that prohibit newly acquired crypto ETNs to be held in conventional Stocks-and-Shares ISAs could also reduce demand.
Hargreaves Lansdown is offering its customers an easy way to get exposure to Bitcoin or Ether without the need for an exchange. Investor demand, cryptocurrency pricing and the expansion of product offerings will determine future adoption.
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Source: crypto.news
