Standard Chartered has launched spot cryptocurrency trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates, allowing eligible investors to trade Bitcoin and Ether directly through the bank’s existing electronic trading platforms.
The move makes Standard Chartered the first global systemically important bank (G-SIB) to offer institutional spot crypto trading in the UAE, further strengthening the country’s position as a regional hub for digital assets.
Under the new service, eligible institutional clients can access deliverable spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether through Standard Chartered’s electronic trading channels. Unlike derivatives, spot transactions involve the purchase or sale of the underlying cryptocurrency for delivery.
The bank said the crypto trading service has been integrated into its existing platforms, enabling clients to execute digital asset transactions through its foreign exchange interfaces.
The launch also expands Standard Chartered’s digital asset operations in the UAE. The bank previously established a digital asset custody service in the country in September 2024, with the new trading capability adding execution services to its existing custody offering.
Institutional clients will be able to settle their cryptocurrency trades through a custodian of their choice. They can also use Standard Chartered’s own digital asset custody solution for settlement.
The bank’s latest expansion follows its move into institutional cryptocurrency trading in the United Kingdom. In July 2025, Standard Chartered introduced institutional spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether through its UK branch, becoming the first G-SIB to provide deliverable spot trading in the two cryptocurrencies to institutional customers.
The UAE launch highlights the growing integration of digital assets into traditional financial services and comes as the country continues to develop its regulatory and financial infrastructure for cryptocurrency and blockchain-based businesses.
Standard Chartered’s expansion is expected to give institutional investors in the Gulf greater access to regulated cryptocurrency trading services while broadening the bank’s presence in the region’s rapidly developing digital asset market.
