Robinhood Cleared for UK Crypto, But Approval Comes with Major Limits
Robinhood has secured approval to operate in the UK's crypto market, but its capabilities are limited. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) added Robinhood U.K. Ltd to its crypto register on July 31, allowing it to pass customer orders to other firms.
However, the company cannot hold anyone's coins or run a crypto exchange. This approval is temporary and subject to renewal by October 2027, when stricter UK crypto rules come into effect.
The FCA has warned that today's registration counts for nothing at that stage, and firms must reapply within a five-month window. Robinhood's UK arm may only arrange crypto trades, taking orders from customers and passing them to someone else to complete.
Rivals such as Kraken, Coinbase, and Revolut have already secured more comprehensive licenses, allowing them to handle customer cash and offer full-service trading.