London-based global banking group Standard Chartered has announced the launch of spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum targeted at its corporate clients, making it the first global bank to offer such services.
Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Service for Institutional Clients
Standard Chartered has introduced spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, targeting major financial institutions. According to Rene Michau, services are currently available only to asset managers and multinational corporations, excluding retail investors. Initially, the bank will focus solely on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with plans to expand to include derivative instruments such as non-deliverable forward contracts. This is intended to enable clients to increase cryptocurrency exposure within a structured risk management framework.
Seamless Integration with Existing Infrastructure
Standard Chartered has integrated spot trades into its existing FX platforms, allowing clients to use a familiar interface without the need to learn new technologies. This reduces integration costs while maintaining market activity in high-frequency trading. The potential provision of 24/5 access will depend on demand, allowing corporate investors to quickly access liquidity.
Future Outlook of Crypto Services
The bank plans to incorporate tokenization services through its crypto custody arm, Libeara, aiming to merge custody, transaction, and securitization processes within a single ecosystem. This indicates the bank's intention to strengthen its position in the growing digital currency market.
With the launch of spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, Standard Chartered underscores its role in responding to the increasing demand from corporate clients for digital currencies, offering unique services in this sector.
