Is Bitfinex available in the United Kingdom?
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is not authorised to market crypto asset services to consumers in the United Kingdom. The FCA placed Bitfinex on its warning list of firms that may be operating without authorisation, and Bitfinex has told customers it restricts persons in the United Kingdom who do not qualify for an exemption.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
How we checked this. We set this status by reading the platform's own terms of use and country eligibility, and the public register kept by the named regulator, then dated the result. Availability can change, so confirm directly with the platform and the regulator before acting. As of 26 June 2026.
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not available to general consumers in the United Kingdom. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) placed Bitfinex on its warning list of firms that may be promoting financial services without authorisation, and Bitfinex does not appear on the FCA cryptoasset register. Marketing crypto to consumers in the United Kingdom must be made or approved by an authorised person under the financial promotions regime, and Bitfinex has said it restricts persons here who do not qualify for an exemption. Because the platform is not available to consumers here, we do not list an exchange comparison for it on this page.
Is the platform available to residents
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not available to general consumers in the United Kingdom. The Financial Conduct Authority added Bitfinex to its warning list of firms that may be promoting financial services or products without the required authorisation, stating that the firm is not authorised by it and may be targeting people in the United Kingdom.
Bitfinex issued a notice to customers about the United Kingdom financial promotions rules and has said it restricts persons in the United Kingdom who do not qualify for an exemption. A narrow set of investors, such as those who meet the rules for high net worth or sophisticated investors, can fall outside parts of the regime, but for ordinary consumers the platform is not an authorised route as of June 2026.
The regulator and the framework
In the United Kingdom the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) supervises cryptoasset businesses for anti money laundering purposes under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and sets the financial promotion rules for how crypto is marketed to consumers. Since October 2023 a firm marketing crypto to consumers in the United Kingdom must either be registered with the FCA, be authorised, or have its promotions approved by an authorised person (as of June 2026).
Bitfinex is not on the FCA cryptoasset register and appears on the FCA warning list. Promoting crypto to consumers in the United Kingdom without the required approval can breach section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Crypto holdings generally fall outside the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and the Financial Ombudsman Service may not consider complaints about a firm that is not authorised (as of June 2026).
What this means for residents
Ordinary consumers in the United Kingdom cannot treat Bitfinex as an authorised platform as of June 2026, and Bitfinex has said it restricts persons here who do not qualify for an exemption. There is no consumer protection through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for crypto holdings, and the Financial Ombudsman Service may not consider complaints about an unauthorised firm.
Consumers who want to buy, sell, or hold crypto should use a platform that is on the FCA cryptoasset register or whose promotions are approved as required. See the page on the best exchanges in the United Kingdom for platforms that are registered here.
Tax treatment
Tax on crypto for taxpayers in the United Kingdom is administered by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This page does not give tax advice. For how crypto is treated in the United Kingdom in general terms, see the United Kingdom tax page, and confirm your own position with a qualified local professional before filing.
Bitfinex is not on the FCA cryptoasset register and is on the FCA warning list, so we do not list it as an available exchange for consumers here and we do not link to it for users in the United Kingdom. Compare the platforms that are registered with the FCA before you choose.
Regulator and sources
The relevant authority is the Financial Conduct Authority, with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs responsible for tax.
- Financial Conduct Authority, its warning list entry stating that Bitfinex is not authorised and may be targeting people in the United Kingdom.
- Financial Conduct Authority, its guidance on who needs to register as a cryptoasset business and on the cryptoasset financial promotions regime.
- Bitfinex, its notice to customers on the United Kingdom financial promotions rules.
- His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, its general guidance on the taxation of crypto assets for taxpayers in the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitfinex legal in the United Kingdom?
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not authorised to market crypto to consumers in the United Kingdom and is on the FCA warning list, so it is not an authorised route for ordinary consumers here. This is general information, not advice.
Is Bitfinex on the FCA register?
As of June 2026 Bitfinex does not appear on the Financial Conduct Authority cryptoasset register, and the FCA has placed it on its warning list of firms that may be operating without authorisation. Confirm the current entries on the FCA registers.
Why is Bitfinex on the FCA warning list?
The Financial Conduct Authority added Bitfinex to its warning list because it considers the firm may be promoting financial services in the United Kingdom without the required authorisation. The FCA states the firm is not authorised by it.
Can residents of the United Kingdom use Bitfinex?
Bitfinex has said it restricts persons in the United Kingdom who do not qualify for an exemption, and it is not an authorised route for ordinary consumers as of June 2026. Consumers should use a platform registered with the FCA.
Which exchanges are registered with the FCA?
Several platforms are on the Financial Conduct Authority cryptoasset register. See the page on the best exchanges in the United Kingdom for the current options, since the register changes over time.
Rules change frequently. The rules for crypto firms in the United Kingdom are changing as a wider authorisation regime is introduced, and a firm's status can change. The position on this page is dated June 2026 and reflects that Bitfinex was on the FCA warning list and not on the cryptoasset register. Confirm the current status with the Financial Conduct Authority and the platform before you act.
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