Standard Chartered First Global Bank to Offer Institutional Crypto Trading in UAE

Standard Chartered has become the first global systemically important bank to offer institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading in the UAE. The service, which is available through its electronic trading channels in the Dubai International Financial Centre, allows eligible institutional clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether for delivery without having to keep their assets with the bank.

The offering is integrated with Standard Chartered's existing infrastructure, enabling clients to access crypto trading through familiar foreign-exchange interfaces. This means that institutional customers can settle trades with a custodian of their choice, including Standard Chartered's own digital-asset custody service.

This move marks the bank's expansion into institutional spot crypto trading in the UAE, following its entry into this market in Britain last year. In July 2025, Standard Chartered began offering deliverable Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its U.K. branch, making it the first global systemically important bank to provide that service to institutional clients.