Standard Chartered launches spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for institutional clients in UAE
London-based Standard Chartered became the first global systemically important bank to offer institutional digital asset spot trading in the United Arab Emirates, expanding its regulated presence beyond custody services.
Standard Chartered announced Thursday it had launched cryptocurrency spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether for institutional clients within the United Arab Emirates. The service is available through electronic trading channels integrated into the bank's existing platforms, allowing clients to execute trades via foreign exchange interfaces rather than separate crypto-native applications. This launch marks a significant expansion of the bank's digital asset footprint in the Gulf region, adding execution capabilities to its custody business introduced in September 2024. Clients may settle trades with external custodians or utilize Standard Chartered's own digital asset custody solution located in the Dubai International Financial Centre. The move makes Standard Chartered the first global systemically important bank to provide deliverable spot trading for these two major cryptocurrencies to institutional investors. Prior to this expansion, the bank had introduced similar Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. Eligible corporate clients and asset managers can now trade the native tokens of both blockchains with immediate delivery options.
