Bitcoin Magazine

Nordic Giant Nordea Opens Crypto Door with Bitcoin-linked ETP

Nordea Bank Abp (Nordea) has announced that it will offer its customers access, from December 2025, to a synthetic exchange-traded product (ETP) whose underlying asset is Bitcoin (BTC).

According to Nordea’s official announcement, the product will be manufactured externally by CoinShares International Limited and made available through Nordea’s execution-only platform. 

Under this model, customers may trade the product, but Nordea will not offer advisory services on it.

The bank cites two primary drivers for the move: the maturation of the European regulatory environment for crypto-assets, especially following the implementation of the Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation (MiCa) regime across the European Union in December 2024; and growing demand for virtual currencies among retail and institutional investors in the Nordic region. 

The ETP in question is described as a “synthetic” product, meaning it provides exposure to Bitcoin via a traditional financial instrument rather than requiring direct custody of BTC. 

Nordea emphasises that the offering is aimed at “experienced investors seeking alternative asset exposure.”

Here’s the broader context: ETPs and exchange-traded vehicles tied to cryptocurrencies have been proliferating across European venues, enabling both retail and institutional investors to access digital-asset exposure through familiar channels. 

JUST IN: €648 billion Nordea to allow customers to trade #Bitcoin-linked ETP on its platforms.

Europe is coming pic.twitter.com/L8hhxKscIZ

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 30, 2025

With Nordea’s move, one of the largest Nordic financial institutions is signalling its readiness to integrate crypto-exposure into its product suite.

At the same time, Nordea remains cautious. In its release, the bank underscores its historic “cautious stance” toward crypto — driven by the absence of investor-protection frameworks, regulatory clarity and supervision in the early days of the digital-asset markets.

What does this mean for Bitcoin? 

For Bitcoin, this development may carry several implications: access broadened into the Nordic regulated-bank channel; increased legitimacy of ETP wrappers as a gateway to exposure; and potentially stronger competition among product issuers aiming to service bank-platform clients under regulated frameworks. 

The product’s December launch means it aligns with the current regulatory momentum across Europe.

Still, caveats abound. A synthetic ETP structure carries its own risk profile (as investors are exposed via an issuer product rather than holding the underlying asset directly). Also, the “execution-only” nature means that retail customers may buy without advisory support.

Nordea Bank Abp is the leading financial-services group in the Nordic region. The group offers universal-banking services including personal banking, business banking, large-corporate and institutional banking, and asset & wealth management. 

This post Nordic Giant Nordea Opens Crypto Door with Bitcoin-linked ETP first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

BlackRock Launches Bitcoin ETP on London Stock Exchange as UK Lifts Crypto Ban

BlackRock has officially listed its iShares Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

This comes after the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) decision to ease restrictions on crypto-linked investment products. 

The ETP, ticker IB1T, allows retail investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly trading or storing the cryptocurrency, offering a simplified entry point into the digital asset market.

The product is fully physically backed, with all Bitcoin held in secure custody through Coinbase. 

BlackRock emphasized that the ETP removes the technical challenges of holding cryptocurrency, transferring responsibility for secure storage to the issuer.

According to the firm, Coinbase employs a combination of physical security, multiparty computation, and daily transfers to segregated cold storage wallets, ensuring institutional-grade protection for investors.

“The iShares Bitcoin ETP leverages years of integration between Coinbase and BlackRock, providing UK investors with a secure gateway to digital assets through traditional trading platforms,” said Jane Sloan, EMEA Head of Global Product Solutions at BlackRock. 

With UK crypto ownership projected to grow to nearly four million adults over the next year, the launch is seen as timely, providing access to a regulated, familiar investment vehicle.

NEW: BlackRock's #Bitcoin exchange traded product is now officially trading on the London Stock Exchange pic.twitter.com/5HjgHvW1tX

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 21, 2025

The ETP has a total expense ratio (TER) of 15 basis points per annum, including a temporary fee waiver until the end of 2025. 

From January 1, 2026, the TER will increase to 25 bps. The BlackRock Investment Institute advises that for investors with suitable governance and risk tolerance, a 1–2% allocation to Bitcoin within multi-asset portfolios is reasonable, reflecting both potential upside and the asset’s high volatility.

UK retail ban lift on ETNs and ETPs

The debut follows a regulatory shift in the UK after the FCA lifted its four-year ban on retail access to crypto-linked exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and ETPs. Previously, retail investors were barred from such products due to high volatility and consumer risk concerns. 

The FCA noted that the market has matured, with institutional-grade custodians and improved liquidity making such investments more suitable for regulated markets. 

While the retail ban on crypto derivatives remains, the FCA has indicated ongoing monitoring of high-risk investments and opened the door for fund tokenization initiatives in the asset management sector.

The UK launch mirrors the success of BlackRock’s U.S. Bitcoin offerings. Its flagship iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) now manages over $100 billion, attracting both retail and institutional investors through traditional brokerage accounts.

In the third quarter of 2025, BlackRock reported $17 billion in net inflows into digital asset products, underlining strong demand for regulated crypto exposure.

This post BlackRock Launches Bitcoin ETP on London Stock Exchange as UK Lifts Crypto Ban first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.