Standard Chartered Brings Bitcoin And Ether Trading to UAE Institutions

First G-SIB to Offer Spot Crypto Trading in the UAE

Standard Chartered has launched spot $BTC and $ETH trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates, marking another step in the bank's expanding digital asset business. The service operates through its entity regulated by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The bank said the move makes it the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) to offer institutional digital asset spot trading in the UAE and the only global bank currently providing the capability in the region.

Eligible institutional clients can access deliverable Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through Standard Chartered's electronic trading channels. The service is integrated into the bank's existing platforms, allowing clients to execute crypto-asset trades through foreign exchange interfaces. Clients can settle trades with a custodian of their choice, including Standard Chartered's UAE digital asset custody service.

Building on an Established Digital Asset Presence

Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE on September 10, 2024, after receiving a DFSA licence in the DIFC. Bitcoin and Ether were the initial supported assets, and Brevan Howard Digital was named the inaugural custody client. Thursday's announcement adds spot execution on top of that existing custody infrastructure.

Standard Chartered first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025, becoming the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether to institutional clients. The UAE expansion brings that same capability to one of the world's most active digital asset markets.

The DFSA introduced a dedicated crypto-token regime in the DIFC in 2022 and refined it through updates published in October 2025 that took effect in January 2026, shifting more token-suitability assessment onto authorised firms and adding governance, disclosure and risk-management obligations. Standard Chartered's move signals growing confidence among major banks that the region's regulatory environment is mature enough to support institutional-grade crypto services.

Sources:
Standard Chartered Launches Spot Bitcoin, Ether Trading in UAE (CoinTelegraph)
Standard Chartered launches institutional spot crypto trading in UAE (Reuters via The Star)
Standard Chartered Launches Institutional Bitcoin and Ether Spot Trading in the UAE (Crypto Times)