How are we regulated?

Region: United Kingdom

Upd: Mar 15, 2022

Depending on where you are ordinarily resident, different Wirex entities with different regulatory permissions may provide certain services to you. If you reside in the United Kingdom, the following Wirex entities provide services to you

Wirex Limited (UEN 201731976E), whose registered office is 9th Floor, 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN.  Wirex Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) as an e-money institution (‘EMI’).  

Wirex Digital d.o.o,  a company incorporated under the laws of Croatia, registered company number 081397185 and whose registered office is Slavonska avenija 1C.  

Our e-money services are provided by Wirex Limited. Wirex Limited and the e-money services we provide are regulated by the FCA. Your traditional currency is safeguarded via a segregated bank account in accordance with our regulatory obligations. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (‘FSCS’) does not apply to services provided by Wirex Limited. 

Our cryptoasset services are provided by Wirex Digital, which is  registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (‘VASP’) in Croatia. The Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (“HANFA”) is the competent authority in Croatia with responsibility for the Anti-Money Laundering (‘AML’) and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (‘CFT’) registration and supervision of VASPs under the Act on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Official Gazette, No 108/17 and 39/19). It is important to note that registration as a VASP subjects Wirex Croatia to the supervision of HANFA is for AML and CFT purposes only. This means that while Wirex does have certain financial crime control obligations under this registration, its cryptoasset services remain largely unregulated. The FSCS or the Financial Ombudsman Service (‘FOS’) does not apply to the cryptoasset services provided by Wirex Digital. 

Please review our terms and conditions to learn more about the risks associated with cryptoassets. If you have any questions or concerns about our regulatory status, please contact us at https://wirexapp.com/gb/en/help/request/create

The table below explains which of our services are and are not regulated. It also explains some of the consequences for the protections which do and do not apply as a result. 

Traditional (Fiat) Currency (e.g. EUR) Cryptocurrency, Cryptoassets or Digital Assets (e.g. BTC, LTC, ETH)

Regulatory Framework and

Legal Entity

Regulated by the FCA and provided by Wirex Limited.

Not regulated by the FCA or any other regulatory body.  

Provided by Wirex Crotia which is registered as a VASP in Croatia under HANFA for AML/CTF purposesHANFA for AML/CFT purposes. 

Funds and Assets
  • Adding traditional currency to your Wirex account 
  • Withdrawing traditional currency from your Wirex account 
  • Holding traditional currency in your Wirex account 
  • Sending or receiving traditional currency to/from another Wirex customer or third parties 
  • Exchanging traditional currency for other traditional currency 
  • Exchanging traditional currency for cryptocurrency and vice versa 
  • Exchanging one cryptocurrency for another cryptocurrency 
  • Holding cryptocurrency in your Wirex account 
  • Transferring or receiving cryptocurrency to/from another Wirex customer, a third party, or an external wallet 
Wirex Card
  • Using your Wirex Card
The Wirex Card is an e-money product and fully regulated by the FCA.
X-Accounts X-Accounts are a crypto-feature and are not regulated by the FCA Making, adding, withdrawing, or earning interest from X-Accounts 
X-tras All non-crypto aspects of X-tras, such as fees, limits, and pricing related to your Wirex Account   All crypto aspects of X-tras, such as WXT, Cryptoback™ rewards, and the Savings Bonus

Custody & Protection of Funds

and Assets

Your traditional currency is safeguarded via a segregated bank account in accordance with our e-money obligations. Your cryptocurrency is held by us with a secure cryptocurrency custodian.
Complaints

Wirex will deal with your complaints in accordance with our Complaints Process here.

For matters related to fiat currency services, if you are not satisfied with our handling of your complaint you may request a review of your complaint from FOS: 

  • By post providing details about your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London E14 9SR; 
  • By telephone on 0800 023 4 567; or  
  • Via the online complaint form available here

Wirex will deal with your complaints in accordance with our Complaints Process here

For matters related to cryptocurrency services, you will not be able to refer your complaint to any regulatory body or ombudsman service including FOS. 

Compensation No access to any deposit insurance or compensation scheme including the FSCS. No access to any deposit insurance or compensation scheme including the FSCS.

You should assess carefully whether your financial situation and tolerance for risk is suitable for any transactions you undertake using the Wirex Service. Remember, you are responsible for conducting your own research before carrying out any transactions through the Wirex Service.

Cryptoassets involve significant risk. Prices of cryptoassets are extremely volatile and change constantly. Most cryptoassets are not issued by a central authority and are largely unregulated in most jurisdictions.

Do not buy cryptoassets if you do not accept the risks associated with cryptoassets, including the risk that the value of cryptoassets may fall significantly or the risk that changes in regulation may prevent you from dealing in cryptoassets in the future.