Standard Chartered launches spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for institutions in UAE
Standard Chartered has started offering spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading to institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The service is available through the bank’s entity regulated by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The bank says this makes it the first major global bank to provide institutional access to spot Bitcoin and Ether trading in the UAE. It also claims to be the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) to offer such a service.
How it works
Eligible institutional clients can trade spot Bitcoin and Ether through Standard Chartered’s electronic trading channels, which are integrated into the bank’s existing platforms.
Key points
- Standard Chartered is the first global bank to offer institutional spot Bitcoin and Ether trading in the UAE.
- The service is available through the bank’s DIFC-regulated entity.
- Trading is accessible via the bank’s electronic trading channels.
- Standard Chartered previously launched digital asset custody services in the UAE in September 2024.
Broader context in the UAE
Other companies are also expanding crypto services in the UAE. In June, Standard Chartered partnered with crypto exchange CoinMENA to support fiat on- and off-ramps and transaction management. Trading platform Capital.com secured a virtual-asset license from the UAE’s Capital Market Authority in August to offer spot crypto services. Neobank Revolut received in-principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in July to provide crypto-related services.
