Standard Chartered Launches Bitcoin Trading in UAE

Standard Chartered Bank has launched Bitcoin spot trading services for eligible institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This move positions the multinational bank as the first globally systemically important bank to offer such a service in the country. The bank had previously established digital asset custody services in the UAE in 2024.

The introduction of Bitcoin trading in the UAE is supported by the region's evolving digital asset regulatory framework, which encourages institutional involvement and innovation. Standard Chartered highlighted that combining trading execution with secure custody and governance provides clients with a more comprehensive approach to engaging with digital asset markets.

This expansion follows Standard Chartered's earlier ventures into cryptocurrency, including establishing a trading desk in London in 2025 and launching a unit called Libeara to facilitate the tokenization of traditional assets. The bank's research division also maintains a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, with analysts predicting significant price appreciation.