Standard Chartered Launches Spot Crypto Trading in UAE

Standard Chartered announced on September 3, 2026, that it has launched spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates, making it the first global systemically important bank to offer such a service in the Gulf country. The new offering, available through the bank's branch in the Dubai International Financial Centre, allows eligible institutions to execute deliverable cryptocurrency trades via the bank's existing electronic trading platforms. The service integrates directly into Standard Chartered's established foreign exchange interfaces, enabling clients to trade Bitcoin and Ether through familiar workflows without needing separate systems. Upon executing a trade, institutions can settle their transactions with a custodian of their choice, which may include Standard Chartered's own regulated digital asset custody platform in the UAE. This custody service, which also supports Bitcoin and Ether, was launched in September 2024 after the bank secured regulatory approval within the DIFC.