Standard Chartered Expands Crypto Trading Services to Institutional Clients in UAE
Standard Chartered, a major global bank, has expanded its crypto trading services to institutions in the UAE. The bank will offer Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to approved clients through its Standard Chartered DIFC branch, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
This move makes Standard Chartered the first major global bank of its size to offer institutional crypto trading in the UAE. The service is built on top of the bank's existing crypto storage service and will allow clients to buy and sell actual Bitcoin and Ethereum priced in US dollars using their usual electronic trading systems.
Standard Chartered has been building towards this expansion since launching a similar service in the UK in July 2025. The bank has also set up crypto storage services in Europe, Hong Kong, and the UAE through its Zodia business. This expansion reflects the growing trend of banks offering direct crypto trading services to their clients.
The UAE has been actively promoting itself as a hub for regulated crypto business, and this move by Standard Chartered is seen as a significant step towards achieving that goal. The bank's expansion into crypto trading will provide a convenient option for institutional clients in the region who want to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum without having to deal with separate login systems or new teams of people.