Austria-based crypto platform Bitpanda has expanded into the United Kingdom, with plans to make the market one of its top three within the next two years.
The move brings both its retail investment app and corporate division, Bitpanda Technology Solutions, to the UK. The corporate arm enables banks and fintechs to offer crypto trading via white-label services, while the app gives British investors access to more than 600 digital assets.
Bitpanda partner with Arsenal
To support the launch, Bitpanda signed a multi-year partnership with Arsenal Football Club as its “Official Crypto Trading Partner.” The deal includes branding across teams, stadiums, and digital platforms, alongside campaigns to educate Arsenal’s 100 million–plus global fans on digital assets and responsible investing.
Before its UK entry, Bitpanda was already operating under multiple regulatory licences in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, serving clients across the European Economic Area and other approved markets. The company secured FCA approval in February and spent several months adapting its product for the UK market ahead of its Thursday launch.
Bitpanda Targets UK as a Top Three Market
The UK has been slower than other jurisdictions to roll out comprehensive crypto regulations. In a recent blog post, the Digital Monetary Institute at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) said the country had squandered its early lead in blockchain-based finance and warned it could lose its position among top global financial hubs.
The post highlighted the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) “Crypto Roadmap,” released in November 2024, which sets out a phased approach to rules on market abuse, admissions, prudential requirements, and stablecoins. With consultations not expected until late 2025, final regulations and full licensing may not arrive until late 2026, leaving the UK’s crypto sector in a state of uncertainty compared to jurisdictions with active frameworks such as the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which is being rolled out in stages through 2024 and 2025.
Despite the delay, crypto firms continue to invest in the UK. Even without a full licensing regime, global players like Coinbase, Kraken, and eToro have strengthened their UK presence under existing anti–money laundering registrations.