Standard Chartered has unveiled a new service allowing institutional and corporate clients to trade Bitcoin and Ether directly through its UK branches, marking another step in integrating digital assets into traditional financial systems.
New Crypto Trading Service
The bank announced the rollout of spot trading for major cryptocurrencies, with plans to expand the service to include crypto non-deliverable forwards (NDFs), a type of derivatives contract. This positions Standard Chartered among a few global banks providing direct crypto trading access to institutional investors.
Integrated Custody and Flexible Options
The crypto spot trading service is fully integrated with existing platforms, allowing clients to trade crypto assets via familiar foreign exchange interfaces. Clients can also choose their preferred third-party custodian or utilize Standard Chartered’s proprietary custody solutions.
Projections for Bitcoin and Ethereum
Standard Chartered maintains a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, projecting its price to reach $135,000 by the end of Q3 2025. However, the bank has adopted a more cautious approach regarding Ethereum, reducing its year-end 2025 ETH price forecast from $10,000 to $4,000.
The launch of Standard Chartered's new service demonstrates the bank's commitment to integrating digital assets into its offerings, potentially reshaping the market for institutional investors.
