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UK Plans to Lift Ban on Retail Investors Buying Crypto Exchange-Traded Notes

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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced plans to remove the ban that currently prevents retail investors from buying crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs), signaling a shift towards a more open regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies.

Previously, the FCA allowed crypto ETNs to be sold only to professional traders, citing concerns that these products were “ill-suited” for retail investors due to the significant risks and potential for complete loss of investment. The ban aimed to protect consumers from high-risk crypto financial products.

However, on Friday, the FCA said lifting the ban would enable retail investors to decide for themselves if such high-risk investments are appropriate, allowing greater choice and supporting growth in the UK’s digital asset sector. David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of payments and digital assets, explained that the move represents a “rebalancing” of risk tolerance, giving consumers the freedom to assess their own appetite for loss.

The proposal is now set to enter a consultation phase before any final regulatory changes are implemented.

The FCA emphasized that crypto ETNs must be traded on FCA-approved investment exchanges to be sold to retail customers, ensuring a regulated marketplace environment. However, the current ban on retail investors trading crypto derivatives will remain in place.

This policy update comes as the UK government pursues legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies comprehensively, aligning more closely with the U.S. regulatory framework, diverging from the EU’s industry-specific rules.

Hedge Funds Rapidly Exit Tech Stocks Ahead of U.S. Tariff Deadline, Goldman Sachs Reports

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Hedge funds have been unloading tech stocks at their fastest pace in six months, marking the largest tech-sector exodus in five years, according to a Goldman Sachs note released Friday and seen by Reuters on Monday. The move comes just ahead of the April 2 tariff deadline announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has sparked widespread market uncertainty and fears of an economic downturn.

According to Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage desk — which tracks hedge fund activity — the information technology sector, including the “Magnificent-7” tech stocks, was “by far the most net sold” last week. Both long positions (bets that prices will rise) and short positions (bets on a decline) in tech stocks were rapidly closed, reflecting a strong pullback across the board.

Analysts at Edmond de Rothschild linked this abrupt sell-off to the anticipated tariffs on copper and other raw materials, which are expected to weigh heavily on tech manufacturers and AI-related hardware producers.

A separate note from Morgan Stanley revealed that hedge funds are increasingly betting against some of the sector’s biggest names. Nvidia, AMD, and Tesla were identified as the top three short positions as of Wednesday.

Goldman said that around 75% of last week’s hedge fund selling activity was concentrated in U.S. tech stocks, particularly those connected to AI hardware development. Total hedge fund exposure to tech is now at a five-year low, despite heavy buying just a few weeks ago in mid-March.

Another dataset from JPMorgan noted a reversal of positions by hedge funds last week, possibly influenced by strong retail investor activity. This surge in retail buying may have triggered a short squeeze, forcing some bearish investors to unwind their positions as stock prices climbed unexpectedly.

“With the tariff news, it was interesting that hedge fund flows and positioning might suggest they’re already somewhat prepared—at least in terms of key areas that have been in focus,” said JPMorgan in its client note.

As the April 2 deadline looms, hedge funds appear to be bracing for volatility, shifting away from one of the market’s most lucrative sectors in recent years.

CoreWeave’s IPO Faces Challenges Amid Financial Concerns and Market Uncertainty

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CoreWeave’s upcoming initial public offering (IPO) is facing challenges, as concerns about the company’s financial health, including its significant debt load, and the timing of the listing may dampen retail investor enthusiasm. Despite backing from Nvidia, CoreWeave’s IPO is being launched in a market fraught with uncertainty, including tariff-related tensions and competition from China’s AI startup DeepSeek.

The company, specializing in AI infrastructure and cloud services, had initially targeted a fully diluted valuation of $32 billion but has since lowered it to around $23 billion after downsizing its IPO. Analysts, including Dan Coatsworth of AJ Bell, have pointed out that CoreWeave’s IPO may have been poorly timed, with AI-related interest cooling off since last year.

CoreWeave has also faced concerns over its long-term sustainability, particularly with its $8 billion debt, and its reliance on Microsoft for GPU demand. However, the company’s strong revenue growth, which more than doubled last year, remains a positive indicator. The IPO’s success will hinge on whether CoreWeave can maintain this momentum and meet earnings expectations.

Despite challenges, CoreWeave may attract retail investors seeking alternatives to the underperforming stocks of the Magnificent Seven tech giants. Some experts, including Josef Schuster from IPOX, believe that CoreWeave could benefit from investors diversifying beyond established players like Nvidia and Microsoft.