Major Banking Milestone: Standard Chartered Launches UK Crypto Trading Desk

In a bold move that signals growing institutional confidence in digital assets, Standard Chartered has officially launched a UK-based trading desk focused on institutional cryptocurrency trading. This strategic expansion aims to serve hedge funds, family offices, and proprietary trading firms looking to gain exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum in a regulated environment.

The crypto desk, operating under Standard Chartered’s London-based FX trading unit, is one of the first by a major global bank to directly facilitate spot crypto trading for institutions. This development marks a significant turning point in the mainstream adoption of crypto assets by traditional finance giants.

This launch follows the bank’s increasing involvement in the digital asset space, including its backing of crypto custody platform Zodia Custody and its digital asset trading arm Zodia Markets. By integrating spot trading into its suite of services, Standard Chartered is streamlining access to crypto for institutional players with stringent compliance needs.

Notably, this move comes amid a broader wave of regulatory clarity in the UK. With the FCA and Bank of England releasing more structured frameworks for crypto oversight, London is positioning itself as a global hub for compliant digital asset innovation. Standard Chartered’s presence could help attract more institutional capital into crypto.

For institutions wary of unregulated exchanges and fragmented liquidity, a trusted banking partner offering crypto trading is a game-changer. The ability to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum with the infrastructure and compliance of a global bank could drive a fresh wave of capital into the market.

This also sets a precedent for other traditional financial institutions. As crypto continues to mature, we expect to see more legacy banks follow suit—perhaps even competing for market share in institutional crypto services. The era of banks sidelining Bitcoin may finally be over.

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