Major UK Trading Platforms Warn: Cryptocurrencies Should Not Be Included in Investment Portfolios

Jinse Finance reported that the long-standing ban in the UK preventing retail investors from participating in cryptocurrency exchange-traded notes (ETNs) was lifted on October 8. ETNs are debt instruments linked to one or more specific assets, and in the cryptocurrency sector, investors can gain exposure to digital tokens through such notes on regulated exchanges. This new regulation has prompted a warning from Hargreaves Lansdowne, the UK's largest retail investment platform, which urged UK retail investors to remain cautious. "HL's investment view is that bitcoin is not an asset class. We believe cryptocurrencies do not possess the characteristics to be included in a portfolio for growth or income, nor should they be relied upon to help clients achieve financial goals," the platform said in a statement. "The performance of cryptocurrencies cannot be reasonably analyzed, and unlike other alternative assets, they do not possess intrinsic value." However, the company also stated that it recognizes some traders wish to "speculate through cryptocurrency ETNs," and therefore plans to offer such trading opportunities to "eligible clients" starting from early 2026.