Standard Chartered Launches Bitcoin and Ether Trading for Wealthy UAE Clients

Standard Chartered has introduced a direct cryptocurrency trading service for affluent clients in the United Arab Emirates, allowing eligible professional investors to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly via their existing bank accounts. The service operates under regulatory approval from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Developed alongside SC Ventures-backed Zodia Markets, the platform uses a closed-loop architecture managing trade execution, institutional custody, and settlement internally. This rollout represents the bank's first global wealth-management crypto trading service, building upon previous institutional spot trading solutions across the UAE, UK, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg.