Standard Chartered Brings Institutional Bitcoin Trading to the UAE

Standard Chartered, a major multinational bank based in London, has launched spot Bitcoin trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This move makes Standard Chartered the first global systemically important bank to introduce this offering in the UAE.

The service is available only to eligible institutional clients and provides them with direct exposure to Bitcoin's spot price movements within a regulated framework. The bank stated that it has developed a clear digital assets regulatory framework that supports institutional participation and innovation, according to Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer for UAE, Middle East and Pakistan at Standard Chartered.

Standard Chartered began offering digital asset custody services in the UAE earlier this year and is expanding its presence in the region. The bank's approach allows clients to benefit from 'execution with secure custody, governance, and the connectivity of a global bank', providing a more integrated way to engage with digital asset markets.

In 2025, Standard Chartered established a trading desk for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in London, integrating crypto trading into its broader foreign exchange operation. The bank's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, recently discussed the outlook for Bitcoin's price, noting that the current bear market has been the shallowest on record.