Key Takeaways
- Standard Chartered now offers spot BTC and ETH trading through its U.K. entity.
- Institutional clients can access crypto markets through familiar forex interfaces.
- The bank has expanded aggressively into crypto in 2025, including custody and collateral services.
Standard Chartered is officially diving deeper into digital assets.
The British multinational bank has opened spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) trading for its institutional clients, claiming the title of the first global systemically important bank to offer such services.
The offering, launched through its U.K. subsidiary, gives corporates, investors, and asset managers direct access to Bitcoin and Ethereum markets with a deliverable trading model.
This means actual ownership of assets, not synthetic exposure, which had historically been a sticking point for institutions wary of crypto.
Standard Chartered Taps Into Surging Institutional Crypto Appetite
The move comes as institutional demand for crypto continues to build, with regulators slowly catching up and banks racing to meet client interest.
“As client demand accelerates further, we want to offer clients a route to transact, trade, and manage digital asset risk safely and efficiently within regulatory requirements,” said CEO Bill Winters.
Standard Chartered’s integration of spot crypto trading with its traditional FX interfaces is a deliberate effort to remove friction for large clients who’ve sat on the sidelines due to operational or compliance barriers.
Non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) are also on the roadmap. These would allow clients to hedge or speculate without taking direct custody, making them an attractive option for institutions that are dipping a toe in.
Years in the Making
This wasn’t an overnight shift. StanChart has been slowly building its digital asset infrastructure since 2021, when it first announced plans for a crypto brokerage and exchange platform.
Through 2021 and 2023, the bank expanded its crypto presence by making strategic investments and enhancing regulatory compliance. In 2024, it laid the groundwork for today’s launch by announcing the creation of a dedicated spot trading desk in London.
It also gained FCA registration for its crypto services, ensuring the new trading operation would meet the U.K.’s evolving digital asset regulations.
2025: A Breakout Year for StanChart’s Crypto Push
So far, 2025 has been pivotal for Standard Chartered’s digital asset expansion.
- January: Rolled out crypto custody services in the U.K.
- February: Partnered with Animoca Brands and HKT in Hong Kong to launch a HKD-backed stablecoin.
- April: Collaborated with OKX and Franklin Templeton on a digital collateral mirroring system.
- May: Teamed up with FalconX to expand crypto services, combining custody and institutional trading solutions.
With spot trading now live, the bank is bridging the gap between legacy finance and crypto in a way few global institutions have done to date.
And with rising interest from clients seeking exposure to digital assets, Standard Chartered may have just set a precedent other banks will soon follow.
Prashant Jha is a seasoned crypto journalist based in Delhi, India, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering. Passionate about the evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, he has been a dedicated voice in the industry since 2018. Prashant’s expertise lies in regulatory reporting, where he unravels complex legal and financial developments with clarity and precision. Before joining CCN in 2024, he honed his craft at Cointelegraph, establishing himself as a trusted name in crypto journalism.
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