Markets · Banks
The bank said on Oct. 14 that eligible clients in the UAE will be able to buy and sell BTC and ETH through their existing accounts, with the bank managing custody and settlement in a closed loop. Dubai's VARA lists it as a licensed broker-dealer.
Eligible clients of Standard Chartered in the United Arab Emirates will be able to buy and sell bitcoin and ether directly through their existing bank accounts, the bank said in a release on Oct. 14 (source 1). The bank called the launch a global first for itself and, in its words, "the first offering of its kind by an international bank in the UAE" (source 1).
The design is a closed loop. Trades will be "executed within the Bank's ecosystem," with the bank "managing end-to-end custody and settlement through a closed-loop model," the release says, so clients need no separate wallet or third-party platform (source 1). The release pitches that as "reducing exposure to third-party wallet risks" (source 1). It does not say whether clients can move coins out to a wallet of their own.
Three parts of the group sit behind it. The release says the product comes from a collaboration between the bank's Wealth and Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking businesses, "alongside SC Ventures-backed Zodia Markets," and is regulated by Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (source 1). It does not spell out Zodia Markets' exact role.
The licence is on the public record. VARA's register lists Standard Chartered Bank, at Standard Chartered Tower in Downtown Dubai, with an active VASP licence for broker-dealer services, issued Aug. 24, 2026, under reference VL/26/08/003 (source 2). The licence condition reads "Permitted to serve Qualified Investors" (source 2).
| Item | What the record says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | Bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) | 1 |
| Access | Existing Standard Chartered bank accounts, no separate wallet | 1 |
| Custody and settlement | Managed by the bank, closed-loop model | 1 |
| First clients | Professional Investor clients in the UAE | 1 |
| VARA licence | VASP licence, broker-dealer services, issued Aug. 24, 2026 | 2 |
| Licence condition | Permitted to serve Qualified Investors | 2 |
It is not open to everyone. The release says the offering "will first be made available to Professional Investor clients in the UAE, with plans to expand to other markets over time" (source 1). It names no next market and no date.
"With digital assets moving into mainstream wealth conversations, clients are increasingly looking not only for access, but also for the security, trust and confidence that comes from investing through a regulated and trusted institution," said Samir Subberwal, Global Head, Wealth Solutions, Retail Products, Data & Analytics at Standard Chartered (source 1).
"We are proud to be the first international bank in the UAE to launch a cryptocurrency trading offering," said Rola Abu Manneh, the bank's Chief Executive Officer for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan (source 1). She called the UAE one of the bank's "four global wealth hubs" (source 1).
The service adds to what the bank already offers. The release lists access to cryptocurrency ETFs through its cash equities trading platform, and cryptocurrency exposure for eligible clients through structured products and OTC derivatives (source 1). The new service is for buying and selling bitcoin and ether themselves, with the bank managing custody (source 1).
The fine print is thin. The release gives no fees, spreads, order limits or client numbers (source 1). The two sources also use different terms for the client base: the release says the offering will first go to "Professional Investor clients" (source 1), while VARA's register lists the licence condition as "Permitted to serve Qualified Investors" (source 2). Neither document explains how the two terms relate.
The next marker is a second market. Standard Chartered says it plans to expand to other markets "over time" (source 1), but names none.
Holding the Corner.
Not financial advice.