IG Group is the first company in the UK to offer crypto trading

IG Group, a London-based investment platform listed on the UK stock exchange, has officially entered the cryptocurrency market with instant buying and holding services for individual investors.

Previously, IG only provided access to the crypto market through derivative products like Contracts for Difference (CFD). The addition of spot trading reflects IG’s efforts to meet the growing demand from investors who wish to directly own digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP, and over 30 other cryptocurrencies, including popular memecoins like Bonk (BONK).

To launch this service, IG has partnered with Uphold—a U.S.-based fintech company specializing in crypto, operating under the oversight of both American and British regulators. Integrating crypto trading into its familiar platform, where clients have already traded stocks, forex, commodities, and derivatives, offers a seamless, convenient, and user-friendly experience.

Related: Russia’s Largest Bank Launches Bitcoin-Linked Bonds

Experts view this move as a clear demonstration of the strong integration trend between traditional finance (TradFi) and digital assets. Today’s investors expect to access a diverse range of asset classes within the same investment ecosystem, and IG is at the forefront of meeting this trend.

IG’s step comes amid the UK government’s push to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the crypto industry. In April, the government published two consultation documents related to draft legislation aimed at regulating activities like cryptocurrency trading and stablecoin issuance. This underscores the UK’s ambition to become Europe’s leading digital financial hub. Recently, the country has also required crypto companies to report detailed customer transaction data.

On the stock market, IG Group’s shares saw a positive response, with a slight increase of 0.25% in early trading, indicating favorable reception from investors.