In a move that further cements the integration of traditional finance with digital assets, Standard Chartered (StanChart) has officially launched spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether, targeting institutional clients. The new offering is now live and aims to meet the rising demand from corporates, investors, and asset managers for seamless access to crypto markets.
Bridging TradFi and Digital Assets
The London-headquartered banking giant confirmed on July 15 that its institutional clients can now trade Bitcoin and Ethereum through familiar FX interfaces, thereby eliminating the need to onboard new trading platforms. As a result, this innovation allows participants to seamlessly integrate digital asset exposure into their existing workflows—without compromising on speed, compliance, or familiarity.
According to StanChart, this move is part of its broader strategy to provide regulated, secure access to digital assets, particularly as institutional interest in crypto continues to grow amid evolving regulations and a maturing market.
What’s on Offer?
Currently, the bank’s service enables spot trading of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH)—the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Trusted custodial channels and bank-grade compliance protocols now settle these transactions in real time.
Additionally, non-deliverable forwards (NDFs)—a popular hedging instrument in FX—will be introduced soon. This will allow institutions to gain exposure to digital asset price movements without taking physical delivery, making it easier to hedge crypto positions or speculate with less risk.
Institutional Demand Rising
StanChart’s entry into direct crypto trading is a response to strong demand from its institutional clients, many of whom have been watching the digital asset space closely for years but lacked secure, regulated entry points.
“With crypto markets becoming more regulated and infrastructure maturing, institutional adoption is accelerating,” said a bank spokesperson. “By integrating digital asset trading into our FX platforms, we’re meeting clients where they already are.”
The move aligns with growing interest from hedge funds, family offices, and corporate treasuries seeking diversified assets, alternative yield opportunities, and long-term digital exposure.
Strategic Implications
StanChart has already established itself as a leader in digital asset innovation, having previously launched Zodia Markets (a crypto trading platform) and Zodia Custody. Now, with this latest development, the bank further signals its commitment to evolving alongside the digital economy and consistently providing institutional-grade solutions.
It also places the bank ahead of many traditional peers who are still cautiously experimenting with crypto-related services.
As regulatory clarity improves globally—especially across the UK, EU, and Asia—more banks are actively following StanChart’s example by bridging the gap between conventional finance and the blockchain economy.