Standard Chartered Becomes First G-SIB to Launch Institutional Bitcoin and Ether Spot Trading in the UAE | LeapRate
Standard Chartered has become the first Global Systemically Important Bank to offer institutional Bitcoin (BTC/USD) and Ether (ETH/USD) spot trading in the UAE, expanding its digital asset services through Standard Chartered DIFC, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
The bank is now the only global lender offering institutional digital asset spot trading in the region. The launch adds execution capabilities to its existing custody offering, giving institutional clients a more complete regulated pathway into digital assets within the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Eligible institutional clients can access deliverable Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through Standard Chartered’s electronic trading channels, which are integrated into the bank’s existing infrastructure. This allows clients to trade crypto assets through familiar FX interfaces rather than separate systems. Trade settlement can be handled through a custodian of the client’s choosing, including Standard Chartered’s own digital asset custody solution, launched in September 2024.
Rola Abu Manneh, the bank’s CEO for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, said the UAE’s regulatory framework supports institutional participation in digital assets, and that combining execution with custody and governance gives clients a more integrated market entry point.
Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer at Standard Chartered DIFC, said the DIFC provides a strong platform for deploying global capabilities regionally.
The bank first launched institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. The UAE rollout extends that offering and builds on Standard Chartered’s wider digital asset strategy, which includes custody, trading and tokenization services, alongside ventures such as Zodia Markets and Libeara.
