Valour, the UK subsidiary of digital asset firm DeFi Technologies, has achieved a significant milestone by securing regulatory approval to offer cryptocurrency Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) to retail investors on the London Stock Exchange. This development marks a substantial expansion in access to digital assets within one of the world's leading financial markets, promising transparent and regulated investment avenues for the general public.
Regulatory Breakthrough for UK Retail Investors
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has given its formal approval for Valour's ETPs linked to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) staking, specifically named 1Valour Bitcoin Physical Staking and 1Valour Ethereum Physical Staking. These innovative products made their debut on the London Stock Exchange, representing a crucial shift as previous crypto ETP offerings were restricted solely to professional investors. This move follows the FCA's decision in October to lift its ban on cryptocurrency ETPs for retail investors, a policy change that has since paved the way for similar initiatives from various asset managers.
Expanding Access and Global Strategy
Johan Wattenström, President and CEO of DeFi Technologies, highlighted the strategic importance of this approval, emphasizing the UK's position as a pivotal global financial market. This regulatory clearance empowers Valour to serve UK retail investors with transparent, exchange-traded products that provide direct exposure to the burgeoning digital asset economy. The expansion into the UK complements Valour's broader global strategy, which includes the prior launch of a Solana (SOL)-linked ETP in Brazil, underscoring the company's commitment to democratizing access to cryptocurrencies through regulated investment vehicles.
