Share this article
UK Regulator Grants License to Digital Security Exchange Archax
The U.K. watchdog has granted several licenses to Archax that will allow it to become a "one-stop shop" for the digital security space.
By Paddy Baker
Updated Sep 14, 2021, 9:45 a.m. Published Aug 19, 2020, 10:13 a.m.
Make us preferred on GoogleThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has granted several licenses to digital securities exchange and custodian Archax – making it one of the world's first authorized trading spaces for the asset-class.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
- Archax said Wednesday it was now licensed as a multilateral trading facility (MTF) exchange, a broker and a cash and asset custodian.
- It is also the first crypto-asset firm to be registered with the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority, a designation that will soon be mandatory for all companies working in the digital asset space from January next year.
- The London-based exchange, which is orientated towards institutions, is now authorized to host offerings, act as a trading venue as well as custody digital securities.
- Co-founder and CFO Matthew Pollard told CoinDesk Archax had become a "one-stop-shop" for the still-nascent digital securities space.
- A digital security is a catch-all term for traditional assets, such as equity or debt, that has been tokenized and put on the blockchain.
- The upshot from Wednesday's announcement is that institutions will be able to trade digital securities on an authorized market for the very first time in the U.K.
- Archax CEO Graham Rodford said the exchange now has 35 issuances in the pipeline.
- Pollard said Archax employed its own specific admissions criteria for the type of digital securities it would allow on its platform.
See also: UK Financial Service Provider to Coinbase, Bitstamp Awarded FCA Payments License
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Gold tops $5,000 as bitcoin stalls near $87,000 in widening macro-crypto split: Asia Morning Briefing
Bitcoin’s onchain data points to supply overhang and weak participation, while gold’s breakout is priced by markets as a durable macro regime shift.
What to know:
- Gold’s surge above $5,000 an ounce is increasingly seen as a durable regime shift, with investors treating the metal as a persistent hedge against geopolitical risk, central bank demand and a weaker dollar.
- Bitcoin is stuck near $87,000 in a low-conviction market, as on-chain data show older holders selling into rallies, newer buyers absorbing losses and a heavy supply overhang capping moves toward $100,000.
- Derivatives and prediction markets point to continued consolidation in bitcoin and sustained strength in gold, with thin futures volumes, subdued leverage and weak demand for higher-beta crypto assets like ether reinforcing the cautious tone.
Top Stories
