Old money, new coins: Aussie brokerage plants its flag in crypto's "untapped" London garden 🇬🇧

Caleb & Brown, an Australian crypto brokerage owned by the Swyftx Group, has formally entered the UK market, extending its high-net-worth digital asset services beyond Australia and the United States. The launch follows Swyftx's 2025 acquisition of Caleb & Brown in a transaction reported to be worth more than $100 million.

The boutique brokerage will target wealthy private clients in the UK, a market Swyftx Group co-CEO Andrea Yuen described as an "untapped opportunity" given comparatively low retail crypto engagement. "If you compare the UK to areas like the US, Asia and Australia, the level of investing in Bitcoin and other alternative risk assets is four or even five times lower. It's a compelling growth opportunity," Yuen said.

Chainalysis' 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index ranks the UK 11th globally, behind Russia, the Philippines and Ukraine. The Financial Conduct Authority has estimated that 8% of UK adults own crypto, a figure that dipped from 2024 even as the average value held by individual investors increased, according to the regulator.

Yuen framed the UK as underserved for premium digital asset services, pointing to the country's established financial infrastructure. "The country is under-served by private client offerings in digital assets. You're talking about one of the oldest and most sophisticated financial centers in the world," she said. "The retail crypto exchange model can feel a little jarring to some investors in that context. We think there is a significant opportunity to come in with a more personal service that offers tailored execution."

Caleb & Brown's UK rollout adds to a year of policy momentum in the country, where recent industry consultations have identified cross-border payments as the leading use case for stablecoins such as $USDC and $USDT, alongside ongoing oversight from the Financial Conduct Authority.