Standard Chartered has introduced a direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading product for high-net-worth clients in the United Arab Emirates, allowing purchases and sales to be executed through existing bank accounts.
Service overview
The new offering is available to customers classified as Professional Investors. It enables them to acquire the two leading cryptocurrencies without using external wallets or third-party exchanges. The bank’s platform manages the entire transaction lifecycle, from order execution to settlement, and holds the assets on behalf of the client.
Regulatory backdrop
The product received licensing clearance from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This approval makes the service the first of its kind from an international bank in the UAE, building on Standard Chartered’s earlier launch of a crypto custody service in the country.
Operational model
Trades are processed within the bank’s own ecosystem, employing a closed-loop structure that limits exposure to external wallet risks. The solution was co-developed with Zodia Markets, a digital-asset trading firm backed by the bank’s venture arm, SC Ventures, and integrates capabilities from the Wealth and Retail Banking as well as Corporate and Investment Banking divisions.
Strategic context
Standard Chartered has been expanding its crypto footprint since 2025, when it opened a spot-trading desk for Bitcoin and Ethereum in London for institutional clients. The institution later extended that desk to its Dubai International Financial Centre unit and now brings direct retail-grade access to its wealth customers. The move aligns with the bank’s broader aim to embed digital assets into its wealth-management suite and to capitalize on the UAE’s supportive regulatory environment.
Why it matters
By offering a regulated, bank-based route to own Bitcoin and Ethereum, Standard Chartered reduces reliance on unregulated exchanges and third-party custodians, potentially increasing confidence among wealthy investors. The launch also signals a growing willingness among global banks to provide crypto services beyond institutional desks, hinting at broader adoption of digital assets in mainstream finance.
