Austrian cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda is expanding its presence in the United Kingdom after securing regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Bitpanda was approved to offer more than 500 crypto assets in the UK, the firm said in an announcement shared with Cointelegraph on Feb. 12.
“We currently have well over 500 cryptocurrencies listed on Bitpanda, which will make it the broadest range available to UK investors,” Bitpanda deputy CEO Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad told Cointelegraph.
The approval also allows Bitpanda to provide UK investors with a variety of crypto services, including staking, savings plans and crypto indexes.
Bitpanda halted onboarding for new UK users in 2023
Bitpanda’s expansion in the UK marks a significant milestone for the firm after it temporarily halted onboarding new users in the country in 2023.
The suspension came in response to changes in the UK crypto marketing rules by the FCA, which imposed a stricter Financial Promotions (FinProm) Regime in October 2023.
“Since then, existing customers have been able to continue using their accounts,” Enzersdorfer-Konrad said, adding:
“With this new approval for brokerage services, we will be able to offer access to over 500 cryptocurrencies as well as staking, savings plans and other services.”
Separately, Bitpanda has been a registered crypto custody provider for business clients in the UK since 2021 and has maintained a local team.
Bitpanda has been a registered crypto custody provider in the UK since 2021. Source: FCA
Bitpanda’s UK crypto offerings align with EU market
Bitpanda’s FCA approval in the UK came after the firm secured a license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework on Jan. 23. The license enabled Bitpanda to operate across all 27 EU member states under a unified regulatory regime.
According to Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Bitpanda’s UK crypto offering will be similar to that in Europe.
Related: Coinbase wins UK FCA approval as registered crypto service provider
“Our range is constantly expanding, with over 100 new coins listed last year alone,” the deputy CEO said, adding:
“While we’ll always look to provide the best possible range of cryptocurrencies to our users, there are no plans currently to list UK-specific coins. Therefore, our crypto offer in the UK won’t differ from that in the EU.”
Citing compliance with MiCA, multiple exchanges — including Coinbase, Crypto.com and Kraken — have been delisting some tokens, including Tether’s USDt (USDT), the largest stablecoin on the market.
Bitpanda will not offer USDt to its clients in the UK or the EU, a spokesperson told Cointelegraph.
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