Robinhood Expands UK Offering: Launches Options Trading

Robinhood, the American brokerage industry disruptor, continues its expansion in the United Kingdom by launching options trading. Announced today (Tuesday), the platform has already started rolling out options trading for traders in the country, with “broader availability [is] expected in the coming days.”

Options Are the Revenue Generator

The California-headquartered broker’s flagship offering in its primary US market is options trading, although it also offers trading in cash equities and cryptocurrencies.

In the third quarter of 2024, it generated $637 million in revenue, of which $319 million came from transaction-based activities. Options trading alone brought in $202 million, followed by cryptocurrencies and equities at $61 million and $37 million, respectively.

"Options trading has historically been difficult for UK investors to access due to high fees, complicated platforms, and limited educational resources,” said Jordan Sinclair, President of Robinhood UK.

Entering the Tough UK Market

Robinhood launched options in the UK about a year after it introduced brokerage services in the country following two failed attempts. It initially tried to launch services in the UK in 2020 but failed. It then attempted to acquire the UK-based trading app Ziglu. However, that deal did not materialise.

The broker initially offers UK customers the ability to trade options on stocks and indices. The index options are cash-settled and European-style, as they carry no early assignment risk and can be traded up until expiration.

Under a promotional offer, the broker will not charge any fees for orders of options contracts; however, after that, there will be a $0.50 per contract fee.

Meanwhile, Robinhood is also expanding its services in the United States. It has already begun rolling out futures trading. Although it did not specify a date for the wider launch of futures instruments, a dedicated page on its website indicates that it will introduce futures trading with forex pairs, cryptocurrencies, indices, and commodities.

In the UK, it also plans to offer localised investment products like Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), “as well as more of the innovative tools, products and technology.”