UK Banks Face Thousands of Complaints Over Crypto Transfer Limits, Advocacy Group Says
Crypto transfer complaints reach UK banks
Several large UK banks are facing questions about restrictions on transfers to cryptocurrency platforms after thousands of customers reported problems moving money.
The crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto said 9,803 people filed 10,092 complaints with UK banks over a 90-day period between May and August 2026. The complaints were sent through the group's online tool, according to a report reviewed by Cointelegraph on Tuesday.
Lloyds Banking Group received the most complaints, at 2,297, followed by Barclays with 1,569 and NatWest Group with 1,278, the report found.
Which banks limit or block crypto transfers
- Barclays and HSBC UK were listed as limiting crypto transfers to 2,500 British pounds (about $3,300) per transaction and 10,000 pounds (about $13,300) over 30 days.
- Six banks, including Starling Bank, TSB and Chase UK, were listed as banning crypto-related transfers entirely.
- Lloyds Banking Group and Revolut were classified as having no published crypto transfer restrictions, even though both received customer complaints.
Revolut's policy versus its support page
Revolut's official support page states that transfers to "some cryptocurrency exchanges" are not supported. A Stand With Crypto spokesperson said this looked like a technical issue rather than a stated policy.
Why the crypto industry is watching
Nick Jones, founder and CEO of Zumo, told Cointelegraph that banking restrictions are a common problem among UK crypto founders and could work against the country's goal of becoming a global crypto hub.
"This issue of restricted access to banking services needs to be urgently addressed in order for UK crypto firms to have a level playing field where they can grow and scale," Jones said.
Jones also warned that the UK's planned crypto regulatory framework may not solve the problem. Companies are preparing for mandatory Financial Conduct Authority approval in October 2027, but access to a business bank account falls outside that framework, he said.
Without coordinated action, Jones added, companies could get full authorization yet still be unable to open a UK business bank account.
What is confirmed
The complaint figures, the 90-day reporting period, and the bank-by-bank rankings come from a Stand With Crypto report reviewed by Cointelegraph. Revolut's support page statement about unsupported transfers is also on the record.
What is still unclear
The claim that Revolut's limits are a technical issue rather than a policy comes from a Stand With Crypto spokesperson and has not been confirmed by Revolut. The banks named in the complaint report did not respond to the allegations in the source material.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.