Standard Chartered launches institutional Bitcoin trading in UAE

First global bank to offer crypto spot trading in UAE

Standard Chartered revealed that only eligible institutional clients would have access to the spot Bitcoin trading service. The bank stated it is the first global systemically important bank to introduce this offering in the UAE, providing clients with direct exposure to Bitcoin’s spot price movements within a regulated framework.

Earlier in 2024, the bank began offering digital asset custody services in the UAE. This expansion into spot crypto trading in the region preceded the launch of similar services in other countries, highlighting the UAE as a priority market for the bank’s digital asset business.

The UAE has developed a clear digital assets regulatory framework that supports institutional participation and innovation, according to Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer for UAE, Middle East and Pakistan at Standard Chartered.

She emphasized that the bank’s approach allows clients to benefit from “execution with secure custody, governance and the connectivity of a global bank,” providing a more integrated way to engage with digital asset markets.

Standard Chartered’s crypto strategy and expansion

In 2025, Standard Chartered established a trading desk for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in London, integrating crypto trading into its broader foreign exchange operation. This move made Standard Chartered one of the first leading financial institutions to actively engage in spot cryptocurrency trading alongside traditional asset classes.

That same year, the bank launched Libeara, a blockchain unit focused on helping institutions tokenize conventional assets, further expanding its presence in the digital assets sector.

Standard Chartered has consistently advanced its crypto services, citing the growing demand among institutional clients and progressive regulatory developments in key jurisdictions like the UAE.

Mini dictionary: Libeara, a blockchain division established by Standard Chartered, focuses on enabling institutions to tokenize traditional financial assets, making them transferable and programmable on blockchain networks.

Bitcoin price outlook

In a recent report to investors in August, Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, discussed the outlook for Bitcoin’s price. He noted that the bank’s previous year-end forecast of $100,000 might underestimate Bitcoin’s potential rise in the coming months.

Kendrick suggested that, once investors remember how quickly prices can accelerate, and after the 6 October milestone passes, Bitcoin could see an overshoot toward its all-time high of $126,000 before year-end. He also observed that the current bear market has been the shallowest on record.

Standard Chartered’s growing commitment to the crypto space comes amid increasing attention on Bitcoin amid evolving regulatory environments and rising institutional adoption globally.