Crypto
Can I Buy a Bitcoin Spot ETF in The UK?
There’s an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for everything these days.
Now there are even more.
Yesterday the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the sale of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the spot price of Bitcoin. It’s a move that tops off years of wrangling over how viable cryptocurrency investing actually is – not to mention the manipulability of markets themselves. For now, it looks like Bitcoin trading is getting another tailwind, though for how long isn’t clear.
This latest development originates in the US, where cryptocurrencies have rarely been out of the headlines in the past two years – for both good and bad reasons.
But can UK investors get involved too? See our FAQ below for more information.
Can I Buy The New US Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the UK?
The short answer to this question is no.
Though fans of cryptocurrency may see this latest US news as a landmark step, UK counterparts may be waiting some time before similar developments in Blighty.
AJ Bell’s head of investment analysis Laith Khalaf says anyone trying to make the case to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that things have changed and that now is the right time to fall in line with the US may well have a difficult time.
“Even with the SEC approval, it isn’t a slam dunk that we will get one over here because the UK regulator may not approve their sale,” he says.
“US ETFs are not available for sale in the UK because they don’t issue a Key Investor Document, so fund groups would need to launch funds specifically for the European or UK market. In 2021 the FCA banned the sale of exchange-traded notes containing ‘unregulated transferable cryptoassets’. These contained really complex whizzy derivatives and financial engineering to gain exposure to the asset class.
“At the time [the FCA said] crypto had no inherent value, was wildly volatile, rife with financial crime, and didn’t fulfil a financial planning need for investors. It’s difficult to make a case that any of that has changed.”
Why Can Europeans Invest in Crypto ETFs and I Can’t?
The simple answer is the rules differ in each country.
Countries like Switzerland, Germany and France have a more advanced regulatory framework for crypto adoption. Last year the first European Bitcoin spot ETF listed in Amsterdam. The UK regulator has taken a decidedly more cautious approach.
Will UK Cryptocurrency Regulation Change Now?
We’ll save you the politics, but suffice to say the FCA is in something of a bind over the current direction of political travel in the UK (an almost-desperate impetus for economic growth and technological innovation) and its own statutory mandate to protect consumers.
Sometimes it feels as though the regulator is trying to put a tick in each box, one after another. In recent years, however, cryptocurrency has been the exception.
That comes despite talk in central government and even the Bank of England of a shift to a digital currency monikered as “Britcoin”.
For his part, Khalaf reckons the regulator is walking a tightrope on this issue.
“The UK regulatory landscape is shifting, with crypto activities being brought under the supervision of the FCA, so this may pave the way for crypto ETFs at some point in the future,” he says.
“If or when that might happen is anyone’s guess. The FCA is walking a bit of a tightrope here between keeping consumers safe and the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for cryptoasset technologies. Bitcoin has endured a number of scandals and huge price volatility, but large investment groups are clearly still interested in packaging it into a tradeable product for punters.
“This is presumably because there would be large consumer demand for Bitcoin ETFs, but sometimes you should be careful what you wish for. It’s hard to make a case that crypto fulfils a genuine financial planning need that can’t be met by other assets, but it definitely does open up investors to the possibility of very heavy losses.”
How Can I Get Exposure to Bitcoin?
Even if you cannot yet buy a Bitcoin spot ETF in the manner now approved by the SEC, there are a number of ways to get exposure to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
This article does not constitute advice to attempt to do so, and readers are reminded they do so at their own risk, and may incur substantial – if not comprehensive – losses.
One option is to buy Bitcoin itself from an FCA-regulated trading platform. At the time of writing, the price of a single Bitcoin is up 1.13% to $47,199 (£37,199).
For those feeling somewhat more cautious, you can gain exposure to cryptocurrencies by buying the shares of companies themselves involved or exposed to cryptocurrency mining. Nvidia (NVDA) is one example, but payment companies like Paypal (PYPL) and Block (SQ) would be others.
What’s The Difference Between a Bitcoin ETF and a Bitcoin Spot ETF?
If you want to understand how cryptocurrency investing works, it’s important to know the difference between products directly linked to cryptocurrency prices, and those with a more secondary exposure.
That is essentially the difference between spot price ETFs and broader exchange-traded products exposed to cryptocurrency.
“The primary difference between a spot ETF and other crypto ETFs is in the assets they hold and how they attract their value,” says Monika Calay, director of passive research strategies at Morningstar.
“A spot ETF like the recently-approved spot Bitcoin ETF primarily holds the actual cryptocurrency itself such as Bitcoin. It physically owns and stores Bitcoin, and the ETF’s value is directly tied to the real-time price of Bitcoin.
“When you invest in a Bitcoin spot ETF you’re essentially owning a share of the cryptocurrency itself, and its performance closely mirrors the price of that cryptocurrency – minus fees and costs.”
But that’s not the only way of doing it. Other ETFs will invest in cryptocurrency-related instruments, such as futures, contracts, futures, options, or shares of companies related to the cryptocurrency industry 0 see above.
“Compared to these structures, spot Bitcoin ETFs are an immediate improvement in purity of Bitcoin exposure,” Calay says.
Has Cryptocurrency Investing Just Gotten Safer?
Purer? Maybe. Safer? No.
Morningstar Investment Management, which is Morningstar’s professional portfolio investing business, remains extremely cautious on cryptocurrencies.
“What started as a pool of ‘early adopters’ has morphed into a growing group of ‘quick profit traders’,” it said in 2021.
“This motive is innately understandable yet fraught with danger.”
That house view has not changed.
Crypto
New Cryptocurrency Pepeto Crosses $10M as Minnesota Banks Get Green Light for Crypto Custody
Minnesota just signed a law allowing state-chartered banks and credit unions to hold crypto starting August 1, giving traditional financial institutions a regulated path to custody Bitcoin and other digital assets. That clarity arrives as every new cryptocurrency with real exchange tools attracts more capital than speculative tokens still pitching ideas. While banks prepare to safeguard digital assets, Pepeto https://pepetocoin.com/ has raised $10 million from wallets positioning before its expected Binance listing. Here is what the custody news means and why Pepeto could be the defining entry of 2026.
Minnesota Opens the Door for Bank-Held Crypto
Governor Tim Walz signed House File 3709 into law, making Minnesota the first Midwest state to let banks and credit unions offer crypto custody, according to CoinDesk. The law requires client assets to stay separated from bank holdings and mandates cybersecurity reviews before service begins. The Block noted the House passed the bill 130 to 4, showing overwhelming support. When regulated banks start holding crypto for retail clients, the tokens with audited code and working infrastructure gain the most institutional trust, and the ones without it fall further behind.
New Cryptocurrency Entries and the Tokens Set to Lead
Pepeto
Banks entering crypto custody proves the market now rewards verified infrastructure over empty roadmaps. Pepeto https://pepetocoin.com/ fits that mold, with a zero-fee swap engine that lets users trade across any chain without paying fees and a bridge connecting multiple blockchains so liquidity never gets trapped on one network. A trader can enter a position, shift it to wherever the best opportunity sits, and exit without fees cutting into returns.
The raise has passed $10 million at a presale price of $0.0000001871, and a SolidProof audit gives Pepeto the kind of verified security banks and exchanges now require before listing a token. The architect behind the original Pepe coin designed the project, and a former Binance expert is shaping exchange readiness. Early holders are not just buying a token, they are buying a complete trading ecosystem at a price that will never be available again once listing day arrives. With Binance listing approaching, this entry is a fixed window that closes permanently once trading begins. The new cryptocurrency space produces hundreds of tokens every month, but the ones that last are the ones with tools people use, and Pepeto is the only presale at this level delivering a working swap engine, a bridge, and risk scoring before its first day on an exchange.
https://youtu.be/shxO0J94CPw?si=ugvmBXGNLNG73e3H
Solana (SOL)
Solana trades near $84.34 after Goldman Sachs fully exited its SOL ETF positions in Q1 2026, according to BeInCrypto. Wall Street firms like Visa continue moving billions onto Solana for tokenized funds and payments, but the token sits roughly 65% below its peak. Support holds near $77, with resistance at $93 and then $100. SOL remains a top layer-one contender, but climbing back to old highs requires a 3x move that depends on macro conditions and institutional return.
XRP
XRP trades near $1.35 after Goldman Sachs also dumped its XRP ETF exposure entirely in Q1, according to BeInCrypto. Support sits at $1.34, with resistance near $1.48. The CLARITY Act clearing the Senate Banking Committee adds regulatory wind. XRP’s $76 billion cap makes triple-digit percentage returns a challenge that few cycles deliver, and the kind of return that changes a portfolio comes from entries priced before their first exchange listing.
The Bottom Line
Every massive crypto fortune began the same way. BNB launched at $0.15 in 2017 and reached $1,369. ADA sold for $0.0024 and crossed $3.09, multiplying early entries by over 1,200 times. DOGE traded below a penny for years before touching $0.73. The one thing every early buyer shared is they committed while everyone else waited. Pepeto sits in that position today as a new cryptocurrency with $10 million raised, working exchange tools, and Binance listing approaching. Getting in at presale pricing is the kind of move that delivers generational returns, but the clock is running and every day brings the listing closer. Visit the Pepeto official website for the full breakdown.
Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale: https://pepetocoin.com/
FAQ
What makes a new cryptocurrency worth buying in 2026?
The strongest new cryptocurrency entries this year have audited code, working tools, and a clear exchange timeline. Tokens without those rarely survive their first year of open trading.
Are large caps like SOL and XRP still worth holding?
Both offer long-term value, but their large caps limit percentage returns in a single cycle. Presale entries with defined listing dates offer a different return structure.
What is the top new cryptocurrency presale right now?
Pepeto has $10 million raised, a SolidProof audit, and Binance listing expected. Visit the Pepeto official website for the complete project overview.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational use only and does not constitute financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies carries substantial risk and volatility, including the possible loss of your investment. Always perform your own research or consult an advisor before making decisions.
Contact: Dani Bonocci
Website: https://www.tokenwire.io
Phone: +971586738991
SOURCE: Pepeto
Press release distribution
This release was published on openPR.
Crypto
Elon Musk Loses OpenAI Trial, Vows Appeal After Jury Dismisses Claims Over Statute of Limitations
Key Takeaways
Verdict Reached, But Battle Not Over
A federal jury in Oakland, California sided with OpenAI on May 18, unanimously dismissing all claims in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman and the company he co-founded. The jury found that Musk’s claims were filed outside the three-year statute of limitations as district court judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers immediately adopted the advisory jury’s verdict.
The lawsuit, first filed in 2024, centered on Musk’s allegation that Altman had broken a foundational promise to keep OpenAI structured as a nonprofit dedicated to the public benefit. The court did not rule on whether that promise existed or was violated and the timing issue rendered the substantive claims legally moot before any evidence on the merits was weighed.
Writing on X shortly after the verdict, Musk called the outcome a “calendar technicality” and confirmed he would take the matter to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His legal team formally reserved the right to appeal in open court.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers expressed open skepticism in response, indicating she was prepared to dismiss any such appeal given the weight of evidence behind the jury’s finding.
A Two-Year Legal Feud
The verdict is just a single chapter within a broader conflict between Musk and OpenAI that has played out across courtrooms as well as social media because shortly after Musk filed his original suit, OpenAI counter-sued him, accusing Musk of waging a bad-faith legal campaign as a competitive weapon.
Musk founded xAI in 2023, whose Grok model competes directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, creating a clear financial incentive behind the litigation that OpenAI’s lawyers leaned on throughout the trial.
The backdrop to the verdict is a company that has continued scaling regardless of the courtroom drama. OpenAI is approaching a $730 billion pre-funding valuation and has targeted a public market debut before the end of 2026. The company made headlines last year (alongside Robinhood) when its name surfaced in a debate over tokenized stocks and equity exposure, a sign of how deeply its footprint now extends beyond pure AI into financial markets.
Musk’s X platform remains one of the most active venues for crypto discourse, and xAI has been actively exploring integrations spanning AI and decentralized applications. In all of this, whether the Ninth Circuit takes up the case remains to be seen because if it declines, the door on Musk’s nonprofit-breach argument closes permanently (at least through the U.S. federal court system).
Crypto
TikTok user scams Sioux Falls woman out of $400K
The new age of AI travel fraud: What to be aware of
The rise of AI is bringing new ways to scam people when booking travel.
A Sioux Falls resident reported on Friday, May 15, a significant incident of fraud that took place on TikTok over the past year.
On Monday, May 18, Sgt. Aaron Benson with the Sioux Falls Police Department said that a 73-year-old woman reported wiring nearly $400,000 to a presumed content creator on the social media platform, in hopes of investing in cryptocurrency.
The victim first sent over $200,000 toward what was believed to be a digital wallet for crypto funds, Benson said. She then later was asked by the same TikTok user to invest in a credit card system, to which the victim agreed and took out a home equity loan to send over another $197,000.
When the victim inquired on the status of the account, the balance was zero, Benson said.
No charges have been made at this point, and Benson said chances of recouping that money are “very slim.”
What you need to know about cryptocurrency
Investing safely in cryptocurrency involves choosing a platform, funding your account and selecting your assets. A user should always need to set up an account to verify identity and banks.
According to previous reporting, the idea that trading should begin with a deposit is slowly being challenged. For beginners especially, committing personal capital before understanding market behavior, risk exposure and execution mechanics can lead to avoidable losses.
“Talk with your family members on the importance of not sending money to people you haven’t met,” Benson said.
But there are ways to protect yourself. According to the South Dakota Unified Judicial System:
- Research the seller, looking for verified badges on the TikTok Shop
- Check seller ratings and positive consumer feedback
- Watch for vague product descriptions
- Use secure payment methods
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links
- Report a potential scam immediately to your bank and the online platform
Although the decision to report a scam is voluntary, the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office says to also report any potential fraud to your clerk of courts office or law enforcement agency. Victims can also visit the Attorney General’s Office website or call their hotline to receive assistance.
In 2025, the Consumer Protection Division said they received “82,000 calls from people reporting they had been victims of scams.”
Also in 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that the state had “one of the lowest fraud rates in the country,” citing 3,575 reports, which is 42% below the national average.
Violations will result in bans, TikTok says
According to TikTok’s Safety Center, an online scam is a “fraudulent or deceitful act that takes place over the internet” and can include the “exploitation of others for some form of monetary gain.”
Their community guidelines state they “do not allow attempts to defraud or scam members of our community” and that repeated violations may result in “account bans.”
Their most common forms of scams include:
- Returns of fake money or free goods and services
- Mobile games scams that involve clicking on a link
- Ponzi or pyramid schemes
- Phishing
- Debt repayment schemes
“This is a reminder to be aware of other people promising money only if you send money first,” Benson said last year. “If you are trying to figure out whether you are going through something similar, reach out to the police department immediately.”
Angela George often covers crime at the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Email ageorge@usatodayco.com.
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