In a move that marks a new milestone in traditional banking’s embrace of digital assets, Standard Chartered has launched spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether through its UK branch, specifically for institutional clients.
Announced on Tuesday, the initiative positions Standard Chartered as the first global systemically important bank to offer secure, regulated, and scalable spot trading access to leading cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).
“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,”
— Bill Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered
This offering is now available to institutional clients, including:
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Corporates
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Asset managers
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Professional investors
The bank is enabling these trades through familiar FX interfaces, providing clients with ease of use and security. Additionally, Standard Chartered is planning to introduce non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) for crypto in the near future, broadening its digital asset suite.
Why This Matters:
The launch is a significant signal that mainstream banks are now ready to support crypto adoption at scale, particularly in a regulated framework. As interest in digital assets grows among institutional investors, banks like Standard Chartered are stepping in to fill the gap left by risk-averse traditional platforms.
This development follows a broader trend of:
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Increased institutional interest in crypto
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Demand for trusted, compliant trading venues
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Integration of crypto with existing financial infrastructure
Standard Chartered has already made several forays into digital assets, and this latest move solidifies its position as a leading innovator in traditional finance adapting to the crypto age.