Standard Chartered to Integrate Zodia Custody into Banking Division

Standard Chartered, a major global bank, is planning to integrate its majority-owned cryptocurrency custody subsidiary, Zodia Custody, into its corporate and investment banking division, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The restructuring, aimed at streamlining operations, could be announced as early as April 2026.

The move involves folding Zodia's client-facing custody services for institutional investors into Standard Chartered's existing digital asset operations within its corporate and investment banking arm. This division has offered similar custody and trading services since at least 2024, including UAE-focused solutions launched in September of that year. By merging these overlapping functions, the bank seeks to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency, sources said. Zodia Custody, however, will continue to operate independently as a software-as-a-service platform, providing white-label custody technology to other financial institutions and fintechs under their own brands.

Zodia Custody was established in late 2020 as a joint venture between Standard Chartered's innovation unit, SC Ventures, and Northern Trust. Standard Chartered holds the majority...