Standard Chartered Launches Spot Bitcoin and Ether Trading in the UAE

According to Arzdigital, Standard Chartered has launched spot crypto trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates through its branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre. The move makes it the first globally systemically important bank to offer direct Bitcoin and Ether trading in the region.

Eligible institutional clients can access the Bitcoin and Ether market through electronic trading gateways previously used for foreign exchange trading. Unlike derivatives, the service delivers assets physically, and clients can choose to hold them in the bank's own custody service or with another custodian. The launch follows the bank's introduction of similar spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025.