Leading UK online investing and trading platform IG Group (LON:IGG) has announced that it has launched crypto trading, becoming the first UK-listed business to allow customers to buy, sell and hold crypto assets.

IG Group and other “traditional” online brokers have come under pressure lately from crypto exchanges and neobanks, which have been increasing their footprints to include non-crypto products such as Stocks and CFDs, encroaching on the business of online / CFDs brokers. For example, Crypto.com has been hiring a number of ex IG Group executives, and recently acquired a CySEC licensed CFDs broker. Crypto.com rival Kraken has made a similar move, also out of Cyprus, as a number of crypto trading providers are moving to expand into other product areas, including stocks, futures, and CFDs trading.

IG customers can now access a wide range of crypto assets, from the most traded coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum to a range of smaller assets. The launch comes as crypto adoption continues to grow in the UK, and follows the government’s recent unveiling of plans for a UK crypto regulatory regime.

With the launch of crypto, IG customers can now trade stocks, indices, ETFs, crypto assets, FX, commodities and financial derivatives in one place – providing an integrated service for those seeking exposure to a broad range of asset classes without the hassle of using multiple providers.

Michael Healy, UK Managing Director of IG, said,

“This is a huge moment for IG and a major milestone in the UK’s crypto journey, with retail investors now able to buy, sell and hold crypto assets with a grown-up business.

“Adoption is rapidly growing and with UK crypto regulation gathering steam, we want to give existing and future investors a platform where they can trade crypto with clear and transparent fees, with a provider already used by hundreds of thousands of retail investors.

“With the addition of crypto, our customers will enjoy a more streamlined investing experience, with IG providing a one-stop shop for a wide range of assets. We’re really excited to bring this offer to market.”

The offer – launched in partnership with crypto asset firm Uphold – is fully integrated across the IG platform and the IG Invest app, launched earlier this year, with customers able to switch from their crypto account to any other accounts they hold with IG (such as a share dealing account or ISA). Uphold will execute all customer transactions and provide pricing data, with Uphold’s infrastructure fully integrated into IG’s user experience.

Simon McLoughlin, CEO of Uphold, said,

“We are proud to have worked with IG and helped such a well-known brand bring crypto services to the UK market. We want to give people better access to this asset class so they can participate in the evolving financial world. Partnerships like this are so important in helping us achieve that goal.”

About IG Group

IG Group (LSEG:IGG) provides online trading platforms and educational resources to empower ambitious clients around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, IG Group is a FTSE 250 company that offers clients access to c.19,000 financial markets worldwide

About Uphold

Uphold is a financial technology company that believes on-chain services are the future of finance. It provides modern infrastructure for on-chain payments, banking and investments. Offering Consumer Services, Business Services and Institutional Trading, Uphold makes pioneering financial services which support millions of customers in more than 140 countries.

Uphold integrates with more than 30 trading venues, including centralized and decentralized exchanges, to deliver liquidity and execution. Uphold never loans out customer assets and is always 100% reserved. The company pioneered radical transparency and uniquely publishes its assets and liabilities every 30 seconds on a public website.

Uphold Europe Limited (FRN:938277) is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for anti-money laundering purposes and complies with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.