Standard Chartered has launched spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum through its UK division, responding to the growing interest from institutional investors in digital assets.
Launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading
Standard Chartered now offers spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum for institutional clients through its UK division. This launch meets the needs of institutional investors for secure access to digital assets. Regulatory changes in the UK have paved the way for this initiative. Corporate and institutional investors can trade both cryptocurrencies, with transactions settled through UK-compliant systems.
Contrast with Barclays
Recent decisions by Barclays contrast with Standard Chartered's initiatives. Barclays has restricted retail purchases of cryptocurrency, prohibiting the use of debit cards for such transactions due to consumer risk concerns.
Future of Digital Assets in Banking
Standard Chartered is also exploring the possibility of launching new financial products, such as non-deliverable cryptocurrency forwards and asset tokenization. These steps indicate a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as viable assets. The bank is set to continue adapting to market changes and regulatory clarity to better integrate digital assets into traditional financial services.
Standard Chartered’s strategy reflects a growing interest in cryptocurrencies among institutional clients. Secure custody solutions remain central to the successful adoption of digital asset trading services.
