Hargreaves Lansdown Opens Bitcoin and Ether ETNs to 2 Million UK Investors

Hargreaves Lansdown, the UK’s largest investment platform, has opened access to cryptocurrency exchange-traded notes for approximately 2 million investors, bringing Bitcoin and Ether investment products onto one of the country’s largest retail investment platforms.

According to information published by @WuBlockchain, citing the Financial Times, Hargreaves Lansdown began offering crypto ETN trading from September 3. The initial range consists of nine Bitcoin and Ether ETNs issued by BlackRock’s iShares, WisdomTree, 21Shares, Invesco, CoinShares and Bitwise.

Hargreaves Lansdown Adds Nine Bitcoin and Ether ETNs

The products carry annual fees ranging from 0% to 0.35%, giving investors access to several issuers and product structures through Hargreaves Lansdown’s Advanced Investing service.

Investors will not receive unrestricted access immediately. Customers using the service must first pass an appropriateness assessment, while first-time trades are subject to a 24-hour cooling-off period.

The measures reflect the additional safeguards Financial typically associated with investment products considered higher risk or more complex than conventional securities. For Hargreaves Lansdown, the move also represents a notable shift from its previous position on crypto-related investments.

The platform had previously been the only major UK investment platform yet to offer crypto ETNs. In October, Hargreaves Lansdown said that “BTC is not an asset class,” underscoring the change in its approach with the introduction of the new products.

UK Retail Access to Crypto Investment Products Expands

The decision gives a substantially larger pool of UK retail investors access to regulated exchange-traded exposure to Bitcoin and Ether without requiring direct ownership of the underlying cryptocurrencies.

The expansion also places major traditional investment platforms more directly alongside the growing institutional infrastructure surrounding digital assets. The participation of established issuers such as BlackRock’s iShares and other major asset managers provides investors with a broader selection of products within a familiar investment platform.

For the UK crypto market, Hargreaves Lansdown’s decision could further integrate digital-asset exposure into mainstream investment channels while maintaining suitability checks for retail customers.

The immediate next step will be to assess investor demand across the nine products and whether Hargreaves Lansdown expands its crypto ETN lineup beyond Bitcoin and Ether.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.