U.S.-based forex trailblazer OANDA is making waves in the UK by launching a cryptocurrency trading platform named OANDA Crypto, officially registered with the country’s financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and headquartered in London.
This move marks the culmination of OANDA’s acquisition of a majority stake in Coinpass, a crypto firm registered with the FCA, last year. OANDA Crypto will facilitate trading in over 63 cryptocurrency pairs, including popular options like Bitcoin, Ether, and Ripple. The company has ambitious plans to expand its offerings by introducing more tokens and features throughout the year.
Unlike some crypto companies that steer clear of heavily regulated regions like the U.S., OANDA found the UK’s regulatory environment appealing. Lucian Lauerman, the firm’s head of digital assets, highlighted the UK’s active and well-educated market as a key factor.
“In the UK, especially in the realm of crypto, we see a market that’s increasingly in line with the environments where we’ve traditionally operated,” Lauerman explained. “The regulatory standards are set at a slightly higher bar, which we find promising.”
In addition to its UK venture, OANDA already provides crypto services in the U.S. through a partnership with Paxos, regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company has also shifted its focus in mainland Europe, relocating its operations from Malta to Warsaw, Poland, following the acquisition of Polish broker Dom Maklerski TMS Brokers SA, which now operates under the OANDA TMS brand.
