Standard Chartered Enters Crypto Trading With Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot Desk for Institutions - Blockonomi
by Brenda Mary · BlockonomiTLDR:
Table of Contents
- TLDR:
- Standard Chartered Bank Enters the Crypto Arena
- Regulation and Risk Controls Are Central
- Standard Chartered Strategic Play as Institutions Warm Up to Crypto
- Standard Chartered now offers BTC/USD and ETH/USD spot trades for institutions.
- The trading desk operates under UK regulation via the FCA and includes custody options.
- Clients can trade crypto using familiar FX systems, no new onboarding required.
- The move makes it the first G-SIB bank to offer deliverable spot crypto trading.
Standard Chartered has stepped into crypto trading, opening a direct path for institutions to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum in U.S. dollars.
The bank’s new spot trading desk is now live through its UK branch and caters specifically to institutional clients. This move makes Standard Chartered the first globally systemically important bank offering deliverable spot crypto trading. It follows months of regulatory coordination and preparation.
Institutional demand for regulated digital asset services appears to be rising fast.
Standard Chartered Bank Enters the Crypto Arena
The bank’s spot trading desk allows institutions to trade BTC/USD and ETH/USD directly using familiar FX systems. This service is tightly integrated with Standard Chartered’s trading platforms, meaning clients can access it without new onboarding.
They can also choose to settle trades with third-party custodians or with Standard Chartered’s custody solution.
The new offering builds on the bank’s existing crypto infrastructure, which includes custody through Zodia Custody and digital asset brokerage via Zodia Markets. With this latest launch, institutions now have a one-stop shop for both custody and trading, all within a traditional banking framework.
Regulation and Risk Controls Are Central
Standard Chartered is registered with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority as a cryptoasset service provider. This gives clients access to regulated crypto trading supported by institutional-grade risk management and a strong balance sheet.
The bank says this structure gives institutions confidence, especially in a space that has seen several high-profile failures. It also removes some of the key hurdles that firms face when trying to trade cryptoassets through less regulated venues.
Besides spot trading, Standard Chartered plans to offer non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) for digital assets soon. The expansion signals a growing appetite among institutions for sophisticated crypto trading tools, not just simple buying and selling.
The bank is now positioning itself to serve that demand, providing both access and infrastructure under a trusted brand name. According to company officials, digital assets are becoming a core component of financial services.
Standard Chartered Strategic Play as Institutions Warm Up to Crypto
Standard Chartered’s move aligns with growing institutional interest in regulated access to crypto markets. The bank’s top executives say digital assets are no longer optional, they’re central to the future of finance.
As the market matures, institutions are seeking providers that offer security, compliance, and familiarity. By offering direct BTC and ETH trading with custody options, Standard Chartered is giving them exactly that.