BlackRock has officially listed the iShares Bitcoin Exchange Traded Product (ETP) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
This follows the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) decision to ease restrictions on crypto-related investment products.
The ETP, ticker IB1T, allows retail investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly trading or storing the cryptocurrency, providing a simplified entry point to the digital asset market.
This product is fully physically backed and all your Bitcoins are securely stored through Coinbase.
BlackRock emphasized that ETP removes the technical challenges of holding cryptocurrencies and shifts the responsibility for safe storage to the issuer.
The company says Coinbase employs a combination of physical security, multi-party computation, and daily transfers to isolated cold storage wallets to ensure institutional-grade protection for investors.
“iShares Bitcoin ETP leverages Coinbase and BlackRock’s long-standing integration and provides UK investors with a secure gateway to digital assets through traditional trading platforms,” said Jane Sloan, Head of EMEA Global Product Solutions at BlackRock.
With the number of UK crypto holders expected to rise to nearly 4 million adults over the next year, the launch is seen as timely and provides access to a regulated and familiar investment vehicle.
NEW: BlackRock’s #Bitcoin trading product is now officially traded on the London Stock Exchange
pic.twitter.com/5HjgHvW1tX
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 21, 2025
The ETP’s total expense ratio (TER) is 15 basis points per year, including a temporary fee waiver through the end of 2025.
From January 1, 2026, TER will be increased to 25 bps. BlackRock Investment Institute advises that for investors with proper governance and risk tolerance, a 1-2% allocation to Bitcoin within a multi-asset portfolio is reasonable, reflecting both the potential upside and the asset’s high volatility.
UK ETN and ETP retail ban lifted
The debut follows UK regulatory changes after the FCA lifted a four-year ban on retail access to cryptocurrency-linked exchange traded notes (ETNs) and ETPs. Previously, retail investors were prohibited from using these products due to concerns about high volatility and consumer risk.
The FCA noted that as the market matures and improvements in institutional custodians and liquidity become available, these investments become more suitable for regulated markets.
Although the retail ban on crypto derivatives remains in place, the FCA has indicated it will continue to monitor high-risk investments and opened the door to fund tokenization efforts in its asset management sector.
The UK launch reflects the success of BlackRock’s Bitcoin offering in the US. Its flagship product, the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), currently manages more than $100 billion and attracts both retail and institutional investors through traditional brokerage accounts.
BlackRock reported $17 billion in net inflows into digital asset products in the third quarter of 2025, highlighting strong demand for regulated cryptocurrency exposure.
The post BlackRock launches Bitcoin ETP on London Stock Exchange as UK crypto ban lifts Originally published in Bitcoin Magazine and written by Micah Zimmerman.