Technology Crossover Ventures, an $8bn investment firm that has backed a raft of financial technology start-ups, has launched operations in Europe, where a regulatory focus on post-trade services and electronic trading could provide fertile ground for investment in the sector.

TCV, which is based in Palo Alto, California, received regulatory approval for its UK partnership, Technology Crossover Ventures UK LLP, on August 28, according to the Financial Services Authority's register of authorised firms.