Standard Chartered, a British multinational banking group, has introduced a new crypto trading service for affluent clients in the UAE. The service allows eligible customers to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly through their existing bank accounts.
The bank announced the launch on October 14, saying the service would initially be available to professional investors in the UAE. The offering has received licensing approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), and the bank plans to bring it to other markets in the future.
One of the main features is that clients will not need to open separate crypto wallets or use outside trading platforms. Standard Chartered will handle the custody and settlement of their digital assets within its banking system. The bank said this setup is designed to reduce the risks associated with third-party wallets.
Standard Chartered Expands Crypto Trading
The latest launch follows the bank’s earlier move into direct cryptocurrency trading for institutional clients. In July 2025, Standard Chartered began offering Bitcoin and Ether spot trading against the U.S. dollar through its UK branch.
The bank brought its institutional trading service to the UAE in September 2026 through Standard Chartered DIFC, its entity operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre under the supervision of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The service gives institutional clients access to BTC/USD and ETH/USD spot trading.
Clients can place trades through the bank’s existing electronic platforms, which are also used for foreign exchange transactions. They can choose their preferred custodian for settlement, including Standard Chartered’s own digital asset custody service, launched in September 2024.
With the new service, the bank is extending crypto trading beyond its institutional business to eligible wealthy clients. The move gives them a way to access Bitcoin and Ether through their existing banking relationship rather than relying on a separate crypto exchange.
How the New Crypto Trading Service Works
The offering brings together Standard Chartered’s Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) and Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) businesses, alongside Zodia Markets, a digital asset trading firm backed by SC Ventures.
Eligible clients can buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) directly through their existing Standard Chartered bank accounts. The bank will oversee custody and settlement within its own ecosystem, removing the need for clients to manage separate wallets or rely on external exchanges.
The structure is intended to give wealthy investors a more familiar way to access cryptocurrency markets while benefiting from institutional custody and operational controls.
Standard Chartered said the service complements its existing digital asset products, which include access to cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds through its cash equities platform, as well as exposure through structured products and over-the-counter derivatives.
UAE Becomes a Key Market for Digital Assets
Standard Chartered said the UAE was selected for the launch because of its regulatory framework and growing role in the digital asset sector.
Rola Abu Manneh, the bank’s chief executive for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, said the launch reflects the strategic importance of the UAE within Standard Chartered’s global wealth management network. The bank identifies the country as one of its four global wealth hubs.
The service also adds to Standard Chartered’s broader digital asset operations, which cover custody, trading and tokenisation. Its ventures ecosystem includes Zodia Markets and Libeara, which focuses on tokenisation infrastructure.
The bank’s expansion comes as traditional financial institutions develop services that allow clients to access cryptocurrencies through regulated financial channels. By offering direct trading alongside existing banking services, Standard Chartered is extending its digital asset business beyond investment products linked to cryptocurrency prices.
What Comes Next?
The initial service is limited to professional investors in the UAE, rather than being available to all retail banking customers. Standard Chartered has not announced a timeline for expanding the offering to other markets or confirmed whether additional cryptocurrencies will be added.
The launch follows the bank’s broader push into digital asset infrastructure, including institutional spot trading, custody and tokenisation. The UAE will serve as the first market for the new wealth-focused offering as Standard Chartered develops its services for affluent clients.
The bank’s next steps will depend on its expansion plans and the regulatory requirements in markets where it intends to introduce the service.
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