Standard Chartered Launches UAE Spot Trading for Institutions
Standard Chartered extends institutional spot BTC and ETH trading to UAE clients, becoming the first G-SIB to do so in the country.
What is new
Standard Chartered now offers spot Bitcoin and Ether trading to eligible institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates.
Clients access the service through electronic channels already used for foreign exchange, with settlement available at a custodian of their choice, including the bank’s own platform.
The launch marks the first time a global systemically important bank has offered deliverable spot trading in these assets inside the UAE.
Rola Abu Manneh, chief executive for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, said the move broadens the bank’s regulated digital asset proposition.
The UAE service expands the digital asset business that began with custody offerings in September 2024.
Standard Chartered first launched institutional spot Bitcoin and Ether trading through its UK branch in July 2025.
What remains unknown
No trading volumes, client uptake figures, or further rollout timeline have been disclosed.
The announcement covers only Bitcoin and Ether.