Standard Chartered has launched a cryptocurrency trading service for eligible affluent clients in the United Arab Emirates, allowing them to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly through their existing bank accounts.
Announced on October 14, 2026, the launch represents the bank's first cryptocurrency trading solution of this kind for affluent customers globally and what it describes as the first such offering by an international bank in the UAE.
The service combines the capabilities of Standard Chartered's Wealth and Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking divisions with infrastructure provided through Zodia Markets, a digital asset company backed by SC Ventures. The solution operates within a framework regulated by Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
Eligible clients can access Bitcoin and Ether without establishing separate cryptocurrency wallets or relying on independent trading platforms. Transactions are executed within the bank's digital asset ecosystem, with custody and settlement managed through a closed-loop operating model designed to reduce exposure to external wallet risks.
The offering combines institutional-grade liquidity, digital asset custody and banking infrastructure, enabling qualified wealth clients to incorporate cryptocurrencies into their broader investment portfolios through an established financial institution.
Samir Subberwal, Global Head of Wealth Solutions, Retail Products, Data and Analytics at Standard Chartered, highlighted growing customer demand for digital assets and the importance of integrating cryptocurrency access into the bank's wealth management offering.
The launch expands Standard Chartered's existing digital asset capabilities, which include cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds, structured investment products, over-the-counter derivatives and institutional trading services.
The development reflects increasing convergence between traditional banking and cryptocurrency markets, as regulated financial institutions introduce digital asset services to meet demand from wealthy and institutional investors.
