United Kingdom · SPY
If you live in United Kingdom and want exposure to SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), you no longer need a US brokerage account. Through tokenized stocks on GM Markets, investors in United Kingdom can buy SPY backed 1:1 by real shares, funded with stablecoins, from just $1. As of the latest update, SPY trades around $778.50 (about £579.49 at recent exchange rates). This guide covers how it works, what it costs, the risks to weigh, and what United Kingdom investors specifically should know.
About the fund
SPY is an exchange-traded fund that holds the stocks in the S&P 500 index, giving a single position exposure to about 500 of the largest US companies weighted by market value. It is one of the oldest and most heavily traded ETFs, and it aims to track the index performance before fees rather than to beat it.
The bull case
Investors use SPY for low-cost, one-trade diversification across the largest US companies, deep liquidity, and a long track record as a core portfolio building block.
Key risks
SPY carries the full market risk of US large-cap equities and can fall sharply in downturns, it is concentrated in its largest holdings and heavily weighted toward the technology sector, and it offers no protection against broad market declines.
For United Kingdom investors
British retail investors have typically reached US shares through platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, or app-first brokers such as Freetrade and Trading 212, after signing a W-8BEN form and swallowing GBP/USD conversion fees on every trade. Tokenized stocks offer a different route: direct 1:1 exposure to the real US share, self-custodied, from about $1.
Compare your options
How tokenized assets compare with the traditional routes a non-US investor would otherwise use.
| Route to SPY | Minimum | You fund with | Who holds it | From United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokenized on GM Markets | From $1 | Stablecoins (USDC) | Your own wallet | Open to United Kingdom |
| Local stockbroker | Often a whole share | GBP | Broker holds | Limited US coverage |
| International broker | Often hundreds of USD | GBP converted to USD | Broker holds | Varies, may gate residents |
| ADR or local listing | Whole-share price | GBP | Broker holds | Only some US stocks |
Step by step
Create a wallet
GM Markets is non-custodial, so you connect a self-custody wallet and keep your own keys. There is no lengthy brokerage onboarding.
Fund with USDC
Add USDC to your wallet. GM Markets settles trades in stablecoins, so this becomes your buying power.
Find SPY
Search for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) in the GM Markets terminal to see the live order book and chart.
Place your order
Buy from as little as $1 with a market or limit order. Your SPY token is backed 1:1 by a real share held at a regulated issuer.
Hold, trade, or redeem
Your position settles on-chain and is yours. Sell any time, or hold for exposure to SPY.
Funding
FAQ
Nearby
See the full SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust guide or trending stocks in United Kingdom.
Trading involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The value of tokenized assets and perpetual positions can fall as well as rise, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Perpetual futures are leveraged products and may not be suitable for every user.
GM Markets does not offer its product or services to users in the United States, or in any other restricted jurisdiction.
GM Markets does not provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. All investments carry risk including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
