In a move that could redefine Britain’s place in the digital-asset world, KR1 has announced its intention to move from the Aquis Growth Market to the prestigious Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The company’s co-founder, Keld Van Schreven, described it as the “starter gun” for this new asset class on the London Exchange.
At around £56 million (roughly $75 million) in market cap, KR1 would be the first of its kind—neither a crypto miner nor a simple holding company—but rather an active investor in early-stage blockchain projects, earning revenue through staking networks like Polkadot and Ethereum.
KR1’s listing raises the bar for UK crypto firms
Joining the Main Market isn’t just a name change. It comes with tighter regulatory standards and governance requirements, placing KR1 in a different league. With this upgrade, the firm gains exposure to a larger pool of global institutional investors and signals that UK crypto is entering a phase of maturity.
London opens doors to crypto firms
KR1’s ambition comes at a moment when regulators in the U.K. are clearly signaling a crypto-friendly stance. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently lifted its four-year ban on crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) for retail investors, paving the way for major players like BlackRock to list Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs on the LSE. Simultaneously, the Bank of England is easing its stance on stablecoin holdings by corporations—a practical signal that London intends to be a serious hub for the crypto phenomenon.
Winners and losers in the U.K. crypto play
It isn’t all green lights though. While KR1 prepares for its upgrade, Argo Blockchain, another U.K.-listed crypto firm, is planning to delist amid financial trouble triggered by the 2024 Bitcoin halving. The contrasting stories of these two companies highlight how the U.K. crypto landscape is evolving: speculators and miners are facing tough terrain, while regulated, diversified firms like KR1 are being embraced.
What this means for the industry
For UK crypto, KR1’s path could signal a turning point. It’s less about trading tokens on fringe platforms, and more about staking, investing, building infrastructure—and doing it on regulated, global markets like the London Exchange. With the curve shifting toward firms that combine blockchain innovation with clear compliance and oversight, the U.K. is positioning itself not just as a participant, but as a front-runner in the next chapter of crypto’s evolution.
