Standard Chartered has become the first global systemically important bank to offer deliverable cryptocurrency spot trading services, launching Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) trading through its UK branch on July 15, 2025. The service targets institutional clients including corporations, investors, and asset managers, integrating with the bank's existing foreign exchange interfaces for seamless access.
The offering allows clients to settle trades through their preferred custodian, including Standard Chartered's proprietary digital assets custody service. Group CEO Bill Winters emphasized digital assets as "a foundational element of the evolution in financial services," citing their role in enabling industry innovation and growth. The bank operates as an FCA-registered cryptoasset provider, leveraging institutional-grade risk controls to address counterparty concerns.
Tony Hall, Global Head of Trading, stated the service applies the bank's risk management frameworks to remove institutional barriers to crypto adoption, particularly regarding regulatory compliance. Plans include expanding to crypto non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) for enhanced hedging capabilities. This initiative builds on Standard Chartered's existing digital asset infrastructure, including investments in Zodia Custody and tokenization platform Libeara.