Standard Chartered launches spot Bitcoin and Ether trading in UAE

London‑headquartered Standard Chartered has introduced spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates through its Dubai International Financial Centre‑regulated entity. The bank claims to be the first global systemically important bank to provide such a service in the region.

Institutional Access via Existing Platforms

Eligible institutions can trade BTC and ETH on Standard Chartered’s electronic trading channels, which are integrated with the bank’s current platforms. This expands the bank’s regulated crypto‑asset suite, building on its digital‑asset custody services launched in the UAE in September 2024.

Recent Partnerships and Market Activity

In June, Standard Chartered signed a banking agreement with crypto exchange CoinMENA, allowing the platform to use the bank for fiat on‑ and off‑ramps, client money accounts, and virtual‑account transaction management. Other firms are also seeking regulatory clearance: Capital.com obtained a virtual‑asset licence from the UAE’s Capital Market Authority in August, and neobank Revolut received in‑principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in July.