Standard Chartered Launches Crypto Trading Services in the UAE

Standard Chartered introduced a cryptocurrency trading service in the UAE on October 14, enabling eligible Professional Investor clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum through their existing bank accounts. The launch brings crypto trading into a regulated banking environment, with the bank overseeing custody and settlement within its own closed-loop system.

The bank described the service as a global first for Standard Chartered and the first offering of its kind from an international bank in the UAE.

According to the announcement, clients can trade Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) using their existing Standard Chartered accounts without setting up separate wallets or relying on external trading platforms. Transactions take place within the bank’s ecosystem, with Standard Chartered managing the custody and settlement process from start to finish.

This closed-loop model is designed to limit exposure to risks associated with third-party wallets and external crypto providers. By bringing trading, asset custody, and settlement under one banking structure, the service allows clients to manage these activities without transferring assets between separate financial platforms.

Standard Chartered said the offering brings together institutional-grade custody, liquidity, and client access within a single digital-asset ecosystem. The service was developed through cooperation between the bank’s Wealth and Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking divisions, alongside Zodia Markets, which is backed by SC Ventures.

Samir Subberwal, Standard Chartered’s Global Head of Wealth Solutions, Retail Products, Data & Analytics, described the launch as an important milestone in integrating digital assets into the bank’s core wealth management services. He also pointed to increasing client demand for cryptocurrency exposure.

The bank’s announcement did not disclose trading fees, minimum investment requirements, transaction limits, the number of eligible clients, or anticipated trading volumes. It also provided no detailed explanation of the execution process or confirmation of whether customers can transfer purchased cryptocurrencies outside Standard Chartered’s ecosystem.

UAE Regulatory Approval and Professional Investor Access

Standard Chartered confirmed that it received licensing approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Initially, access will be limited to eligible Professional Investor clients based in the UAE.

The bank said it selected the UAE because of its support for innovation, regulatory environment, and expanding position in the digital-asset industry.

Rola Abu Manneh, Standard Chartered’s Chief Executive Officer for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, also highlighted the launch as part of the bank’s regional digital-asset strategy.

Regulatory approval is a key element of the service because it places the offering within an authorised UAE framework. At the same time, restricting access to Professional Investors means the product is not being introduced as a general retail cryptocurrency trading service.

Instead, Standard Chartered is incorporating crypto trading into its existing banking and wealth management relationship for a specific category of clients.

Standard Chartered Considers Further Market Expansion

Standard Chartered said it intends to extend the service to additional markets over time, although it has not announced specific countries or an expansion schedule. For now, the offering remains focused on Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for eligible Professional Investors in the UAE.

The launch also builds on the bank’s existing digital-asset investment services. Standard Chartered says its broader wealth platform already provides cryptocurrency exposure through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available on its cash-equities platform, as well as structured products and over-the-counter derivatives.

The introduction of direct crypto trading adds another option for clients seeking digital-asset exposure through their banking relationship.

The next major development to watch will be an announcement identifying the markets Standard Chartered plans to enter next, along with any additional details about product access, trading conditions, and supported digital assets.

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