- This initiative is part of the bank’s broader effort to integrate digital assets into core financial infrastructure.
- According to the bank, the spot trading capability is fully integrated with existing trading infrastructure.
- In September 2024, the bank launched a regulated crypto custody service in the United Arab Emirates.
Standard Chartered Bank has expanded its digital asset footprint by launching a new spot cryptocurrency trading service tailored for institutional investors and corporate clients. The move reflects a wider trend of traditional financial institutions deepening their engagement with crypto markets.
The London-based multinational announced on Tuesday that the new service will support spot trading in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) through its London branch.
This development is a component of the bank’s extensive program to incorporate digital assets into its core financial infrastructure and client offerings.
Institutional access via FX platform
The bank says the spot trading functionality is fully integrated into its existing trading infrastructure, enabling institutional clients to trade crypto assets using the same foreign exchange (FX) interfaces they already use.
Clients can settle trades with the custodian of their choice, including Standard Chartered’s own custody solution.
The integration aims to reduce onboarding friction for traditional financial participants by leveraging the established workflows and operational experience of the FX market.
“Digital assets are a foundational element in the evolution of financial services,” said Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, in a statement.
“They are essential to unlocking industry-wide innovation, broader inclusion, and new pathways for growth.”
“As client demand accelerates, we want to provide routes for clients to trade, clear, and manage digital asset risk safely and efficiently within regulatory frameworks,” the CEO added.
Custody and a broader digital asset strategy
This launch builds on Standard Chartered’s prior digital asset initiatives.
In September 2024, the bank introduced a regulated crypto custody service in the United Arab Emirates, supporting custody of both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The custody offering is designed to meet institutional needs and to comply with regional regulatory frameworks.
The bank also holds strategic exposure to the sector through investments in Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, firms that provide crypto infrastructure services to institutional investors.
In addition, Standard Chartered supports Libeara, a platform focused on tokenizing real-world financial assets.
Through its Corporate and Institutional Banking division, Standard Chartered offers an integrated suite of digital asset services covering trading, custody, and tokenization. This end-to-end capability aligns with a broader industry trend in which banks seek to provide comprehensive crypto infrastructure to their clients.