Standard Chartered Becomes First Major Global Bank to Launch Crypto Trading in UAE

Standard Chartered has launched spot Bitcoin and Ether trading services for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates, operating through its entity regulated by the Dubai International Financial Centre. The move positions the London-headquartered bank as the first global bank to offer this type of institutional digital asset trading in the region, and the first globally systemically important bank to introduce a similar offering anywhere.

Eligible institutional clients will be able to trade spot Bitcoin and Ether directly through Standard Chartered’s existing electronic trading platforms, integrating digital assets into the bank’s broader financial services infrastructure.

Expanding Presence in the UAE’s Growing Crypto Market

This latest launch builds on Standard Chartered’s earlier entry into the region’s digital asset space, having introduced crypto custody services in the UAE back in 2024. The bank also recently formed a banking partnership with a regional crypto exchange to support fiat transactions and account management services.

The UAE has increasingly become a focal point for global financial institutions and crypto platforms seeking regulatory approval to operate in the region, with several other companies recently securing licenses or preliminary approvals to offer similar digital asset services locally.