A popular Bitcoin investment trust has ceased trading in the UK after failing to comply with new EU rules.

Hargreaves Lansdown, Britain's largest broker, which offered the Bitcoin Investment Trust until this week, said it no longer offered the fund as it had not complied with new EU regulations that come into force from January 1.

The FTSE 100 broker said it had ceased trading in the trust a week early, because it had concerns about the level of interest from investors. The fund was frequently among the most viewed investments on the site.

"We took it off the platform a few days early because we have concerns people might be buying it without fully considering all the risks," said Laith Khalaf, of Hargreaves Lansdown.

"We do have concerns, which are driven by the recent interest in Bitcoin."

All investment trusts must issue a "Key Investor Information Document" by January 1, in order to comply with new EU regulations on investment funds. Anyone who fails to do so can no longer sell their funds in the UK or Europe.