According to reports from Robinhood, the trading firm has officially launched cryptocurrency trading services for UK investors on Monday, with the rollout to eligible customers beginning this week. The all-in-one Robinhood app now provides UK customers access to over 50 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Hyperliquid, as part of their expanded investment platform. The launch is being executed through Bitstamp UK Ltd, which Robinhood acquired for $200 million last year and is registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority as a crypto asset service provider. UK customers will pay zero trading fees, no account maintenance fees and no custody fees, but will incur a 0.1% foreign exchange fee, rising to 0.3% for certain weekend conversions. The service integrates crypto alongside stocks, stocks ISA, options, futures products, and prediction markets into a single app, allowing users to directly buy and sell digital assets within Robinhood's main investment app. As reported by AMBCrypto, the unique selling point is that there are no trading fees, with Robinhood claiming the new cryptocurrency service will not charge trading, account-maintenance, or custody fees to qualified UK customers, though investors should still consider spreads and other expenses.
The launch follows Robinhood's FCA registration on July 31, clearing a regulatory requirement for providing cryptocurrency services in the UK. Under the existing UK system, crypto firms must register with the FCA and comply with anti-money laundering requirements before offering covered services. Robinhood had previously disclosed during its July 29 second-quarter earnings report that it planned to introduce crypto products in the UK but did not provide a launch date at the time. The company entered the market before another regulatory change scheduled for the UK crypto sector, with applications under the country's incoming crypto authorization framework expected to open at the end of September and remain available until the end of February 2027, with the full regime scheduled to take effect in October 2027. The FCA registration obtained under the current anti-money laundering framework does not replace authorization under the incoming system. According to AMBCrypto, while it will require separate authorization under the new regulations, the registration gives Robinhood a head start ahead of the UK's new crypto regime in October 2027.
As reported by Robinhood, the company has launched its own blockchain, Robinhood Chain, without a proprietary token, effectively closing the door on a Robinhood coin for now. The network, which went live on July 1, operates as a permissionless Ethereum Layer-2 network built on Arbitrum infrastructure, using ETH exclusively as its native gas token for transaction fees. According to analysts, this design makes a proprietary token redundant, as the chain processes transactions the same way Ethereum's mainnet does. The chain launched with a focus on tokenized real-world assets, including stock tokens representing US equities and ETFs, which are initially available to eligible users in more than 120 countries, with an early emphasis on the EU and EEA. The platform also enables 24/7 trading of tokenized assets, with Uniswap among the day-one ecosystem partners providing liquidity infrastructure. According to company figures, Robinhood Chain has recorded more than $18 billion in decentralized exchange trading volume and more than $840 million in total value locked since launching.
As reported by Robinhood, the company is introducing 'Robinhood Cortex Digests for Crypto,' a generative AI-powered widget that analyzes breaking news, market data, technical indicators and Robinhood's proprietary insights. The AI service explains in plain English the key factors driving price movements in individual crypto assets, providing users with enhanced analysis capabilities and breaking down crypto trends into understandable terms. To complement the launch, Robinhood is providing built-in educational resources and guidance to help customers make informed decisions when trading crypto, including continuing to add materials to Robinhood Learn and the Help Center. Customers also have access to 24/7 support via in-app chat. The generative AI feature processes breaking news, technical indicators, market information and Robinhood's proprietary data to provide explanations for price movements in individual cryptocurrencies, extending Robinhood Cortex into a crypto service that now sits inside the same application as the company's other UK investment products. According to AMBCrypto, the launch is also introducing Cortex Digests for Crypto, an AI-powered tool that uses technical indicators, market data, and breaking news to provide plain English explanations of cryptocurrency price movements, though it is not intended to forecast future prices but rather to give market context.
According to Robinhood, the product provides a transparent, low-cost alternative to many incumbent U.K. platforms, which often rely on opaque pricing structures and apply wide spreads that can erode customers' returns. The service is part of Robinhood's push to make digital assets more accessible and answer the growing interest in crypto investing. However, Robinhood notes that crypto holdings through Bitstamp UK are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service. As noted by Jordan Sinclair, President of Robinhood U.K. Ltd and GM of Bitstamp UK Ltd, a new wave of UK investors sees digital assets as an important part of a diversified portfolio, taking another major step toward becoming the all-in-one investment platform for the UK. The design choice to use ETH for gas fees means Robinhood Chain users don't need to acquire an unfamiliar asset just to pay for transactions, as they can use ETH already available on major exchanges. This expansion comes as Robinhood faces ongoing challenges with its cryptocurrency revenue, with the company making roughly $100 million from cryptocurrency transactions in Q2, which was 38% less than the previous year.
According to Robinhood's Q2 earnings report, the company's crypto transaction revenue fell 38% year-on-year to $100 million, while prediction markets revenue reached $156 million and surpassed crypto for the first time. Total net revenue rose 32% year over year to $1.31 billion, and net income increased 48% from Q2 2025 to $573 million. During this earnings period, executives pointed to early traction for Robinhood Chain, which became the fastest Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible chain to reach 100 million transactions. Robinhood's Chief Financial Officer Shiv Verma noted that the company delivered record revenues and drove new highs across equity, option, and event contract volumes, as they continue to win market share. The UK rollout comes after Robinhood reported lower cryptocurrency transaction revenue during the second quarter despite expanding its digital asset products, with other parts of Robinhood's trading business recording stronger growth. As reported by AMBCrypto, this expansion coincides with pressure on Robinhood's cryptocurrency revenue, making the UK launch a crucial step in recovering market share in the digital asset space.
