Tag Archives: united kingdom

The number of countries approving different types of bitcoin futures trading continues to increase, with the UK being the latest example. The London Stock Exchange Group has tapped Global Futures Options to start offering the nation’s first regulated trading clearing in bitcoin index futures and options derivatives. Although the exact date of the product launch is unclear yet, both parties’ expectations indicate that the product will see the light of day during the last...

Crypto firms in the United Kingdom are struggling to obtain banking services, Bloomberg reported Sunday, citing multiple sources. Local crypto executives expressed frustration with rejected applications, frozen bank accounts, and overwhelming paperwork. The situation was exacerbated by the departure of United States-based lenders Silvergate Capital, Signature Bank, and Silicon Valley Banks. Banking Restrictions Hinder Crypto Firms in the UK According to the report, the...

The United Kingdom has dropped its plans to launch a government-backed non-fungible token (NFT) aimed at enhancing the country’s approach to crypto assets. Andrew Griffith, Economic Secretary of the Treasury, disclosed to Parliament that the Royal Mint, tasked with creating the NFT, would not proceed with the plan but would keep the proposal under review. HM Treasury Cancels NFT Plans Recall that Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Prime Minister and former Chancellor of the Exchequer,...

The London-based cryptocurrency platform – Luno – announced that its long-reigning CEO Marcus Swanepoel will step down from his post to become an Executive Chairman. James Lanigan, who previously served as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer, will replace him. The new boss will aim to raise funds from new investors (other than DCG) and prepare Luno for eventual public listing. Marcus Swanepoel – a South African former banker who founded Luno ten years ago – praised his...

Popular UK-based financial institution National Westminster Bank (NatWest) has restricted the funds its customers can spend on crypto purchases to reduce their exposure to the volatile asset class. According to a Bloomberg report, NatWest account holders now have a transfer limit of £1,000 ($1,215) per day or £5,000 ($6,090) every 30 days into crypto exchanges. NatWest Restricts Customers’ Crypto Activity NatWest, the UK’s third-largest bank by market capitalization, said the...

The London-based fintech company that allows cryptocurrency trading – Revolut – saw a 33% spike in its revenue in 2022, said the firm’s CFO.  Its positive results come in spite of the crypto market decline last year and the overall unfavorable macroeconomic conditions. A ‘Strong Momentum’ Mikko Salovaara – Revolut’s CFO – revealed to Reuters that the company’s revenue surged to $1.03 billion in 2022.  He said the number of new subscriptions and business accounts has risen...

HSBC, Nationwide Building Society, and other banking heavyweights in the UK are reportedly implementing a new set of restricting rules aimed at purchasing cryptocurrency. The move comes amid a chaotic year for the crypto industry, which witnessed the failure of several industry giants. Same Old Song According to a Bloomberg coverage, the biggest banking institution in the United Kingdom – HSBC – banned clients from buying cryptocurrencies via their credit cards, citing...

The United Kingdom and its finance ministry is planning to lay the groundwork for new digital currency regulations following the collapse of popular digital currency exchange FTX. The United Kingdom Doesn’t Want Another FTX in the Books Financial Services Minister Andrew Griffith commented in a recent interview: Our view is that this reinforces the case for clear, effective, timely regulation and proactive engagement with [the] industry. This includes a proposal to bring...

The United Kingdom’s crypto and fintech industries saw investment dry up in the latter half of 2022 amid a combination of turbulent macroeconomic conditions and record-high inflation. Businesses in the region completed a total of 591 fintech deals in 2022, compared to 724 in 2021.  The Fintech Trajectory According to Bloomberg, the data comes from a report published Wednesday by the big four accounting firm, KPMG. Its numbers show a $22 billion drop in Fintech investment in...

A British pensioner living in Nottinghamshire parted with $207,000 after becoming a victim of a bitcoin romance scam. The police managed to restore some of the stolen funds and warned people to be extra vigilant with online dating due to the rise of similar frauds. The Latest BTC Romance Scheme The Nottinghamshire police said a woman in her 70s transferred over $200,000 to a suspicious bitcoin address belonging to an individual she was dating online. The person in question...