Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Confidence in Crypto Grows as Fidelity Opens Regulated ETP to Retail Investors

Fidelity International's move to make its Bitcoin ETP available to UK retail investors marks a significant step in bridging traditional finance and the crypto market, signaling growing institutional confidence in regulated digital asset access. The Financial Conduct Authority's approval, announced November 3, allows the Fidelity Physical Bitcoin ETP to be offered to retail clients via Fidelity's advised platform, with plans to expand to its consumer platform in the future, according to an ETF Express report. This development aligns with broader trends of institutional players and regulated exchanges integrating crypto infrastructure, as seen in Kalshi's recent expansion of USDC deposits on Base and BlackRock's large-scale crypto custody activity.

Kalshi, the U.S.-regulated prediction market operator, has added native USDC deposits on Base, a Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 network, enhancing on-ramps for users to trade on real-world outcomes without relying on wrapped tokens or high-friction bridges, as reported in a FinanceFeeds article. This integration, part of Kalshi's broader push to expand across compliant blockchains like Sui and Aptos, underscores the growing demand for seamless, regulated crypto rails. For Circle, the issuer of USDC, the move reinforces its multi-chain strategy to reduce bridge risks and solidify USDC's role in mainstream finance.

Meanwhile, BlackRock's recent deposit of 3,496 BTC ($384 million) and 31,754 ETH ($122 million) into Coinbase Prime highlights institutional adoption of crypto custody solutions. The transaction, reported by on-chain analytics platforms and documented in a Coinotag report, reflects a strategic shift toward regulated infrastructure amid volatile market conditions. Such moves by asset managers signal a maturing crypto ecosystem, where security, compliance, and liquidity management are prioritized.

Fidelity's ETP approval complements these trends by offering retail investors a familiar, regulated vehicle to access Bitcoin. The ETP, listed on major exchanges including the London Stock Exchange, has an ongoing charges figure of 0.25%, making it one of the more cost-effective options in the space. Fidelity Digital Assets acts as custodian, leveraging its institutional-grade infrastructure to secure holdings. This approach mirrors strategies employed by other traditional financial firms entering crypto, such as BlackRock's recent ETF innovations and Coinbase's layer-2 integrations.

The convergence of these developments-regulated ETPs, institutional custody, and compliant prediction markets-suggests a broader normalization of crypto within traditional finance. However, challenges remain, including regulatory fragmentation and state-level scrutiny of crypto products. For example, Kalshi continues to navigate legal uncertainties around event-based contracts, while the European Commission's proposed SEC-style oversight for crypto and stock exchanges could reshape cross-border compliance frameworks, according to a TradingView article.

For now, the focus for firms like Fidelity and Kalshi remains on scaling infrastructure and reducing friction for users. As Fidelity's ETP becomes accessible to retail investors and Kalshi's Base integration simplifies onboarding, the line between traditional and crypto markets continues to blur. These steps, driven by plumbing rather than hype, may ultimately define the next phase of crypto's integration into global finance.