Standard Chartered Launches In-Bank Crypto Trading for UAE Wealth Clients

Standard Chartered offers in-bank crypto trading for UAE wealth clients, expanding private banking services with secure, regulated digital asset access.

Standard Chartered Launches In-Bank Crypto Trading for UAE Wealth Clients
Liberal News
Publish: 14.10.2026
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Standard Chartered has begun offering a crypto trading service that allows eligible wealthy clients in the United Arab Emirates to buy and sell bitcoin and ether directly through their existing bank accounts. The bank handles custody and settlement internally within a closed-loop ecosystem, so clients do not need separate crypto wallets or external trading platforms.

The offering is initially limited to clients classified as professional investors and marks a global first for the London-based lender: it is the bank’s first direct cryptocurrency trading service for affluent customers in any market. Standard Chartered said the new service combines capabilities from its wealth and retail banking and corporate and investment banking divisions and operates via Zodia Markets, supported by SC Ventures.

Regulatory approval and prior rollouts

Standard Chartered confirmed it obtained licensing approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The bank previously launched institutional spot trading for bitcoin and ether through its U.K. arm in July of the prior year and extended that institutional offering to the UAE on Sept. 3.

Service scope and future plans

Initially, the trading service targets professional investors, but Standard Chartered already provides certain clients access to crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), structured products and over-the-counter derivatives. The bank indicated plans to roll the new direct trading capability out to additional markets over time, though it did not provide a specific timeline.

Feature Details
Assets available Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH)
Client segment Professional / wealthy clients in UAE
Custody model Internal closed-loop custody and settlement
Operating unit Zodia Markets (backed by SC Ventures)
Regulatory clearance Licensed by Dubai’s VARA
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