Key facts Standard Chartered has launched spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates. The bank announced the move on 3 September 2026. It runs the service through Standard Chartered DIFC, an entity based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulates that entity. The launch adds trade execution to the digital asset custody service the bank already runs in the market.
Clients trade Bitcoin and Ether through existing platformsEligible institutional clients can access deliverable Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through the bank's electronic trading channels. Deliverable trading means clients buy and sell the actual assets for immediate settlement, not derivatives contracts. The service sits inside the platforms clients already use for currencies. They trade crypto-assets through familiar foreign exchange (FX) interfaces. Clients may settle each trade with a custodian of their choice, including Standard Chartered's own custody solution.
The bank is the first major lender to offer thisThe move makes Standard Chartered the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) to offer the capability in the UAE. The bank said it is the only global lender currently offering institutional digital asset spot trading in the region.
"Extending our Bitcoin and Ether spot trading capability to institutional clients is a significant step in broadening our regulated digital asset proposition in the market. By combining execution with secure custody, governance and the connectivity of a global bank, we are providing clients with a more integrated way to participate in digital asset markets.", 3 September 2026.
— Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Bitcoin and Ether rose about 4% over 24 hoursBitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ Eligible institutional clients can access deliverable Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through the bank's electronic trading channels. Deliverable trading means clients buy and sell the actual assets for immediate settlement, not derivatives contracts. The service sits inside the platforms clients already use for currencies. They trade crypto-assets through familiar foreign exchange (FX) interfaces. Clients may settle each trade with a custodian of their choice, including Standard Chartered's own custody solution.
The bank is the first major lender to offer thisThe move makes Standard Chartered the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) to offer the capability in the UAE. The bank said it is the only global lender currently offering institutional digital asset spot trading in the region.
"Extending our Bitcoin and Ether spot trading capability to institutional clients is a significant step in broadening our regulated digital asset proposition in the market. By combining execution with secure custody, governance and the connectivity of a global bank, we are providing clients with a more integrated way to participate in digital asset markets.", 3 September 2026.
— Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Bitcoin and Ether rose about 4% over 24 hoursBitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ The move makes Standard Chartered the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) to offer the capability in the UAE. The bank said it is the only global lender currently offering institutional digital asset spot trading in the region.
"Extending our Bitcoin and Ether spot trading capability to institutional clients is a significant step in broadening our regulated digital asset proposition in the market. By combining execution with secure custody, governance and the connectivity of a global bank, we are providing clients with a more integrated way to participate in digital asset markets.", 3 September 2026.
— Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Bitcoin and Ether rose about 4% over 24 hoursBitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ "Extending our Bitcoin and Ether spot trading capability to institutional clients is a significant step in broadening our regulated digital asset proposition in the market. By combining execution with secure custody, governance and the connectivity of a global bank, we are providing clients with a more integrated way to participate in digital asset markets.", 3 September 2026.
— Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered
Bitcoin and Ether rose about 4% over 24 hoursBitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ Bitcoin and Ether rose about 4% over 24 hoursBitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ Bitcoin traded at about $80,870 at the time of publication, up 4.45% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Its market value stood near $1.62 trillion. Ether traded at about $2,495, up 4.02% over the same window (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026). Both assets stayed far below their 2025 highs. Bitcoin sat about 36% under its October 2025 record, and Ether about 50% under its August 2025 peak (CoinPaprika, 3 September 2026).
The launch builds on custody and UK tradingThe UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ The UAE service builds on steps the bank has taken over two years. Standard Chartered launched digital asset custody in the UAE in September 2024. It first introduced institutional Bitcoin and Ether spot trading through its UK branch in July 2025. That UK launch made it the first G-SIB to offer deliverable spot crypto-asset trading to institutional clients.
"DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ "DIFC provides an established platform for international financial institutions to deploy global capabilities across markets. Extending our institutional digital asset trading capability through the Centre demonstrates the strength of that model, combining Standard Chartered's global markets expertise and network with a regulated base from which we can serve clients across the region.", 3 September 2026.
— Christopher Parsons, Senior Executive Officer, Standard Chartered DIFC
Primary source: Source ↗ Primary source: Source ↗ Primary source: Source ↗ Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and involve significant risk. You may lose part or all of your investment. All information on Coinpaprika is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Coinpaprika is not liable for any losses resulting from the use of this information.