Best Cross-Chain Crypto Bridges of 2025
Considering the cryptocurrency holders of the UK, from 1.5 million in 2018 to 9.8 million in February 2021, the banks have accepted the Crypto Era. Each bank was given a score, to reveal which financial institution is ideal for crypto customers. Cryptocurrencies are a great way to send and receive funds from all over the world. While not all banks are crypto-friendly, opening an account is simple with the right information. Such services are also much more progressive than their forefathers, allowing them to more quickly and agilely adapt to changes in the market.
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The users just need to insert the destination wallet address and sign the transaction. Most of the swaps, even cross-chain transfers, have a duration of minutes, depending on network load. The SmartBCH Bridge connects the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) mainnet and the SmartBCH sidechain, enabling the holders of BCH to access Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and decentralized applications. Bitcoin Cash is primarily a payment-focused blockchain, but SmartBCH gets its gates open by introducing EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatibility, and this bridge acts as the gates to access them.
Challenger banks challenge the high-street banks’ dominance of the banking industry. Let’s look at the most crypto-friendly traditional and challenger banks. Barclays, one of the biggest and oldest banks in the UK, has had an interest in crypto and blockchain technology since the start. The bank has explored the basic technology behind blockchain in order to implement it in practice, as well as support innovative blockchain companies through the bank’s fintech ecosystem. Choosing the right crypto-friendly bank in the UK isn’t just about convenience—it’s about building a secure, flexible foundation for your crypto journey.
Which Banks Support Cryptocurrencies? List of Best Crypto Friendly Banks in the UK.
Lloyds Banking Group, encompassing Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, supports crypto transactions list of crypto friendly banks in the uk via Faster Payments. It’s a traditional banking option with a crypto-friendly stance, ideal for users prioritising stability. The world of finance is evolving at lightning speed, and cryptocurrencies are no longer just a niche interest—they’re reshaping how we bank, invest, and transact.
- The bank established a Blockchain factory for the cryptocurrency industry.
- One of the biggest draws of Wirex is its ability to let users spend crypto and fiat seamlessly.
- Many UK users diversify their exposure by combining CEX trading with DEX integrations or non-custodial tools.
- Naturally, not every UK bank will be friendly towards cryptocurrency.
- They don’t publish a specific crypto policy, but from my experience, they handle FCA-registered exchanges on a case-by-case basis.
Risks of Using Unregulated or Offshore Exchanges
However, many companies accept payment in crypto, so you can’t do much with it other than trade, exchange, save, and invest. Many UK banks now accept that customers pay money into and out of crypto exchanges, and most support this. Crypto exchanges are regulated similarly to money transfer services, such as PayPal, Wise (formerly TransferWise), Western Union, and others. You need to go through KYC and other requirements to sign-up for exchanges in the UK.
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- Although Revolut allows you to buy digital currencies within its three account types (Standard, Premium, and Metal), we have not personally done so.
- Still, not all financial institutions have embraced cryptocurrency, and the case isn’t any different in the UK.
- In October 2023, it was confirmed that all bank transfers and card payments to exchanges would be declined by default.
- In total, its customers can choose from 50 different payment-related business solutions.
Synapse is a highly flexible software developer-friendly top cross chain bridge and one of the most adaptable ones in the DeFi ecosystem. The Nomadic Labs and Baking Bad teams, in collaboration with the Tezos ecosystem, preserve decentralization while ensuring cross-chain utility is optimized. It is purely non-custodial from the user’s end and provides support for ERC-20 tokens, AVAX, and wrapped tokens. Users can interact with AB using MetaMask, and the bridge’s ease of use UI makes it one of the most user-friendly options present in the market. Avalanche Bridge (AB) is the native cross-chain bridge developed by Ava Labs to connect Avalanche C-Chain and Ethereum. Launched as a next-generation replacement for the earlier Avalanche-Ethereum Bridge (AEB), it offers fast, low-cost, and safe asset transfers with a focus on usability and scalability.
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As such, they are free of bureaucratic restrictions and are able to provide new services much quicker. According to customer reports, Xace will very rarely hinder crypto-related transactions. As such, it has quickly turned into a preferred choice among crypto enthusiasts in addition to online gamblers. Additionally, Revolut also offers the option to invest in various cryptos within the app itself. However, this does work on a contract for difference (CFD) basis.
Crypto Exchange Platform or a Traditional Bank?
Some banks, like Revolut, allow direct crypto purchases within their app. Others, like Monzo and Starling, support transfers to FCA-regulated exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken for buying crypto. Wirex, a Web3-focused platform, blends banking and crypto with a Mastercard-backed crypto card. Supporting 59+ cryptocurrencies, it’s perfect for users who want to spend digital assets directly or earn through staking. The firm advertises itself as supporting digital assets purchases on “various exchanges”, but doesn’t specify which ones. One caveat is that like most banks, it reserves the right to block some transactions to avoid risk.
The latter was banned earlier this year, although the bank has stated that their decision will not affect customers’ ability to withdraw funds from the exchange. The bank allows customers to transfer money to crypto exchanges via direct bank transfers and credit or debit cards. It also has a strong security system and is heavily sensitised against fraud, explaining why customers are only advised to trade on reputable exchanges. Juno offers a reliable and innovative solution for businesses looking to bridge the gap between crypto and fiat. Still, it’s not for businesses needing traditional banking services or regulatory protections like FSCS. It’s best suited for users who are comfortable navigating digital assets and looking for an alternative to traditional banking systems.