BlackRock and Galaxy Digital Receive UK Regulatory Approvals for Crypto Operations

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has granted BlackRock permission to operate as a crypto asset firm within the country, opening doors for transactions related to iShares Digital Assets AG exchange-traded products backed by cryptocurrency. This approval facilitates BlackRock’s rollout of its new European spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Product in the UK, but this access remains limited to institutional and professional investors due to current FCA restrictions barring retail participation in crypto ETPs on regulated markets.