Multinational bank Standard Chartered announced on Thursday that it has launched bitcoin spot trading for eligible institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates. The service is the first of its kind offered by a Global Systemically Important Bank in the country.
The move follows the bank's launch of digital asset custody services in the UAE in 2024, which preceded its debut of spot crypto trading operations in other international jurisdictions. Standard Chartered previously established a trading desk for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in London in 2025, integrating the crypto desk into its existing forex trading operation. During the same year, the bank also launched a blockchain unit named Libeara to assist institutions with tokenizing traditional assets.
“The UAE has developed a clear digital assets regulatory framework that supports institutional participation and innovation,” said Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan at Standard Chartered.
Abu Manneh added that combining trade execution with secure custody, governance, and the connectivity of a global bank allows the institution to provide clients with an integrated approach to participating in digital asset markets.
Additionally, Standard Chartered's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, recently addressed market projections in an August note to investors, suggesting that previous year-end forecasts could be exceeded depending on market movements and upcoming dates relative to previous all-time highs.
