While the British government is relaxing regulations for the crypto industry, the country’s largest investment platform, Hargreaves Lansdown, is urging investors to be cautious.
While the British government is relaxing regulations for the crypto industry, the country’s largest investment platform, Hargreaves Lansdown, is urging investors to be cautious.
«Bitcoin is not an asset class and we do not believe the cryptocurrency has characteristics that allow it to be included in portfolios for growth or income,» Hargreaves Lansdown said.
The company emphasizes: cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value, and it is practically impossible to assess their potential profitability.
On October 8, the UK lifted a long-standing ban on retail investors trading crypto ETNs, exchange-traded notes that are tied to digital assets. The government called the move «supporting the growth and competitiveness of the UK crypto industry.»
In addition, Britons will now be able to hold crypto ETNs in their ISA accounts, where up to £20,000 ($26,700) can be invested tax-free each year.
Hargreaves Lansdown acknowledges that Bitcoin’s long-term returns are truly impressive, but the asset has experienced several sharp declines and remains much riskier than stocks or bonds.
«Bitcoin is an extremely volatile asset. Investors should consider the risks, even if the temptation is high,» the company emphasized.
The platform plans to allow its «eligible clients» to try crypto ETN trading starting in early 2026.
Cryptocurrencies continue to divide the financial world.
In particular, Morgan Stanley is preparing to open crypto trading to retail investors. JPMorgan is working on its own stablecoin, although the bank’s CEO Jamie Dimon has long criticized crypto. Warren Buffett has traditionally called bitcoin an «illusion.»
But not everyone is pessimistic. Nigel Green, CEO of DeVere Group, on the contrary, sees signs of market maturity in crypto: «Investors no longer perceive Bitcoin as an oddity. Its volatility is now productive — it is a natural part of the market’s maturation stage.» According to him, Bitcoin is moving into «structural growth,» and the market is becoming increasingly institutionalized and stable.
Recall that the cryptocurrency market crashed due to statements by presidential candidate Donald Trump about imposing tariffs on goods from China.
On the morning of October 11, the body of famous crypto businessman Konstantin Kudo was found in Kyiv with a gunshot wound to the head.
