FCA Approval Clear Path for BlackRock First Bitcoin ETP in London

BlackRock First Bitcoin ETP Listed in London After FCA Crypto Ban Lift

The introduction of the UK's first Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) by BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, on the London Stock Exchange is a significant move towards mass crypto adoption in London.

BlackRock First Bitcoin ETP Listed in London.

BlackRock publicly traded its iShares BTC Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on October 22, 2025, under the ticker IB1T.

This was launched soon after the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) relaxed its ban on crypto-linked investment products. The relocation will enable retail investors to have exposure on a regulated and familiar platform.

The IB1T allows investors to follow the BTC Price without necessarily purchasing, holding, and storing the cryptocurrency itself. It is the first crypto product offered by BlackRock to UK retail investors, having already launched a successful crypto product in the U.S.,  which has more than $100 billion in assets under management.

Source: Bitcoinsensus X

What is an ETP

An Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) is a financial product that is traded in stock markets like shares. It is a program that is meant to monitor the worth of a back-end asset, which in this situation is Bitcoin.

Why This Matters in the UK?

The UK retail investors were not allowed to purchase crypto ETFs or ETNs for a number of years because of the high volatility and risks to the investors. Nevertheless, in 2025, the FCA removed the four-year ban, as the crypto market is mature, and institutional protection has improved.

Such a regulatory change is an indication of increasing confidence in digital assets and their place in the wider financial ecosystem. As the number of adults in the UK who own crypto is expected to be four million next year, this will provide investors with a safer entry into the crypto market by using products that they are familiar with.

Details of the iShares Bitcoin ETP of BlackRock.

Ticker: IB1T

Listing: London Stock Exchange.

Custodian: Coinbase

Support: Fully physically supported - every share is actual Bitcoin stored in a secure deposit.

Expense Ratio: 0.15% per annum up to 31st December 2025, and 0.25% on or after 1st January 2026.

The institution has emphasized that this product eliminates the technical difficulties of owning and operating Bitcoins directly, and it provides investors with a convenient means of engaging in the digital asset market.

Source: BitcoinMagazines X

BlackRock Security and Custody.

BTC held by the ETP is under the management of Coinbase, which uses a combination of cold storage, multiparty computation, and transfers daily to segregated wallets.

This system guarantees institutional quality security, which secures the assets of the investors against internet attacks. The long-term relationship between Coinbase and BlackRock will increase the level of transparency and confidence among TK investors joining the crypto arena.

Market Impact

The launch is considered a good omen for institutional adoption of BTC in Europe. Analysts are of the opinion that it would be appealing to large inflows of traditional finance, closing the divide between conventional investing and digital assets.

Market sentiment is optimistic, although the initial trading volume was not high. The success of the previous BlackRock U.S. Bitcoin ETF is an indication that there would be high demand for the product in the UK in the long term.

The importance of this launch.

This ETP is the first significant move of London in the direction of regulated crypto investing. It puts the nation in line with the global trends and offers users a secure and easy gateway into BTC.

In the case of BlackRock, it supports the leadership of the company in the field of innovating digital assets, proving that cryptocurrency is gaining popularity in the world of mainstream finance.

Conclusion

The launch of an ETP by BlackRock in London to invest in Bitcoin is a landmark in the UK cryptocurrency investment, combining both conventional finance and digital innovation, and introducing the possibility of wider BTC adoption in Europe.