Standard Chartered Offers Institutional Clients Spot BTC and ETH Trading in UAE

Standard Chartered has expanded its digital asset offerings in the United Arab Emirates by launching spot trading for institutional clients. The bank's service allows eligible clients to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) directly with asset delivery, making it the first global systemically important bank to offer such a service in the country.

The new service is integrated into Standard Chartered's existing foreign exchange infrastructure and can be accessed through its electronic trading channels. Key features of the service include trades executed through the bank's digital asset infrastructure, client-selected custody options, and transactions settled through a custodian.

This move marks an expansion of Standard Chartered's presence in the UAE digital asset market, following the launch of its custody business in September 2024. The bank has also provided institutional investors with direct access to spot crypto trading in other markets, including the UK and EU through its subsidiary Zodia Markets.