Standard Chartered has announced plans to become the world’s first major bank to offer spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading services directly to institutional clients.
Its new platform enables corporates, asset managers, and professional investors to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) through regulated channels seamlessly integrated into the bank’s existing foreign exchange (FX) trading infrastructure.
Unlike previous approaches that relied on derivatives or indirect exposure, Standard Chartered’s service delivers actual ownership of crypto assets. This addresses a long-standing hurdle for institutional adopters wary of off-exchange or synthetic products.
The rollout through its UK branches marks the first time a major, regulated multinational is offering deliverable spot crypto trading to institutions at this scale. It also enables access to the crypto markets using familiar FX trading interfaces, with secure settlement to either the bank’s custody platform (Zodia Custody) or via third-party providers.
Furthermore, it is fully integrated with existing banking services, minimizing operational risks for large institutional clients.
Surging Institutional Demand Drives Standard Chartered Move
The initiative responds directly to a groundswell of interest from institutional investors. This is as digital assets solidify their position as an integral part of modern finance. While banks globally have dabbled in crypto via custody, stablecoins, or derivatives, few have been willing to offer end-to-end spot trading, until now.
Standard Chartered has already signaled plans to expand beyond spot trading, for instance, with non-deliverable forward (NDF) products and potentially other digital assets on the horizon. The bank’s digital asset strategy also encompasses custody services, investments in trading and tokenization ventures (such as Zodia Markets and Libeara), and partnerships with global crypto firms.
The bank’s move comes as the global institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates. Industry analysis indicates that Bitcoin and Ethereum now comprise the majority of digital asset holdings in institutional portfolios. They surpass 70% of allocations, compared to just 37% for retail investors.
Other banks, such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, have offered crypto derivatives and structured products. However, they have stopped short of direct, physical coin trading. Standard Chartered’s entry as a “first mover” is expected to spur a wave of similar offerings as banks race to meet demand and avoid losing clients to crypto-native competitors.
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