Robinhood moves closer to having a fully regulated footprint across the EU, UK and US crypto spaces.
Robinhood has secured approval to offer cryptocurrency services in the UK after its local subsidiary was added to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register of cryptoasset firms.
Robinhood UK was added to the register on 31 July, confirming that the company meets the regulator’s anti‑money laundering requirements and giving it permission to operate crypto services under the current regime before the UK’s new framework launches next year.
The company already offers brokerage services in the UK and has previously indicated that it plans to bring more of its investing platform to the market, with the latest providing the foundation needed to move ahead with those plans.
Robinhood joins more than 50 companies on the FCA register, including firms such as Kraken and Ripple. Securing a place on the list months before the transition to the new regime means the company has completed part of the groundwork.
A busy year for crypto regimes
The UK is preparing to introduce a full FSMA‑based crypto framework that will replace the current registration system.
Applications under the new authorisation regime will open at the end of September and close at the end of February next year, with the full rules scheduled to take effect in October 2027.
In April, the FCA published detailed guidance explaining how it interprets the activities that will fall within scope. The consultation outlined regulated activities covering stablecoin issuance, safeguarding, trading platforms, dealing, arranging deals and staking.
The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Act came into force across the EU on 1 July 2026, and Robinhood was one of the first firms to secure approval under the regime. However, its operations in the UK will differ due to the differences in the two frameworks.
MiCA sets out rules for stablecoins, custody, market abuse and disclosures, while the UK approach focuses on how activities fit within the wider financial services perimeter and how firms show they meet the standards applied to other regulated sectors.
Speaking to Payment Expert earlier this year, Michael McCormick, Financial Services Managing Consultant at RSM UK, said the FCA’s guidance addresses one of the biggest barriers in the market by addressing whether firms are in or out of scope.
“Set against the backdrop of MiCA in the EU, the UK is positioning itself with a distinct, FSMA-based framework. Importantly, this is not just about compliance – it creates a real opportunity,” said McCormick.
Robinhood will also be watching developments in the US, where the Clarity Act is facing further delays. The bill is currently moving through the Senate and its next deadline falls one day before Congress breaks for the summer.
If it is not passed before that point, the process will pause until lawmakers return later in the year, pushing any final vote into the autumn.
Robinhood’s crypto business faces pressure
Robinhood’s UK entry follows a period where its crypto business has been under pressure in the US.
According to the company’s 2026 Q1 results, crypto transaction revenue fell, dropping nearly 50% year over year to $134m. Trading volumes also declined for the third consecutive quarter as lower crypto prices reduced commission and spread revenue.
The company described recent market conditions as a “blood bath”, noting that Bitcoin’s price slump had weighed heavily on activity.
The second quarter brought similar challenges, with crypto revenue falling 38% year over year to $100m, even as the company continued to expand its product suite. Robinhood launched Robinhood Chain, introduced Stock Tokens in more than 100 countries and completed its acquisition of WonderFi.
Prediction markets have become one of Robinhood’s fastest‑growing revenue lines in the US. The company processed billions of event contracts in the first quarter and generated significant revenue from its Prediction Markets Hub, supported by partnerships with Kalshi, ForecastEx and Rothera.
However, prediction markets are not legal in the UK, meaning Robinhood cannot rely on that product to support its crypto expansion in the country.
