IG Group Partners with Uphold to Offer Secure Crypto Trading for UK Users

Highlights:

• IG Group now lets UK retail investors trade 31 cryptocurrencies through its platform and mobile app.
• Interest in crypto is growing in the UK as the country races to develop regulations for the market.
• IG partnered with Uphold to offer secure crypto trading and expand beyond traditional financial products.

IG Group has launched a new service that allows retail investors in the UK to directly trade cryptocurrencies. This makes it the first company listed on the London Stock Exchange to offer such access. Investors can now buy and sell 31 different tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin, and Bonk. The service is available on both the IG trading platform and the IG Invest mobile app.

🇬🇧 NEW: UK-listed IG Group launches retail crypto trading, giving investors access to 31 digital assets including $BTC, $ETH, and $XRP. pic.twitter.com/TFgslsoRPH

— Crypto ZooM (@CryptoZoom_) June 2, 2025

Before, IG limited crypto exposure to contracts for difference, enabling users to make bets on crypto prices. After this update, users can get access to the assets and trade them in real-time. The offering has been developed in partnership with Uphold. Uphold, a crypto asset platform based in the United States, will manage all transactions and pricing data while also holding the crypto assets.

However, IG clients should note that crypto holdings will not be protected under the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Even so, IG believes that being a publicly listed and regulated company will help build customer trust. According to IG UK’s managing director, Michael Healy, investor demand for crypto access has grown significantly in recent months. He noted that customer interest has now reached a tipping point.

UK Market Demand Grows as Oversight Measures Take Shape

Interest in crypto continues to rise across the UK, especially among retail investors. A recent report from the Financial Conduct Authority showed that 12% of UK adults now own some form of cryptocurrency. The rise is a sign that investors are increasingly searching for new types of investments.

The UK government is also actively creating new regulations for digital assets. In April, it issued a draft set of rules outlining how cryptocurrency-related companies should work. Later, the Financial Conduct Authority began conducting a public consultation. The main aim is to create rules for issuers of stablecoins and companies that custody digital assets.

The industry had been taking a more cautious approach before these improvements. The fall of crypto exchange FTX in 2022 worried people involved in cryptocurrency and those who oversee it. Regulators are making progress towards improving the clarity in the market. The decision by IG to offer direct crypto trading might push the industry toward broader acceptance.

Crypto Trading Becomes Core to IG Group’s Expansion

With the addition of direct crypto trading, IG Group has moved into new areas outside its typical activities in stockbroking and leveraged products. Users can move between their crypto and standard accounts directly on the platform. As a result, users of the IG app can move more easily between different types of trading.

With Uphold involved, the service strengthens its offer as it uses the same reliable practices across the UK and US. The decision to team up with Uphold underlines IG’s commitment to making digital assets safe for users. As a result of this service, IG is now competing with Revolut and several other firms that already have crypto features.