Standard Chartered has launched spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first global systemically important bank to offer the service in the country as major banks expand deeper into digital assets.
The bank said eligible institutional clients can now buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether for delivery through its electronic trading channels in the Dubai International Financial Centre. The service is integrated with Standard Chartered's existing infrastructure, allowing clients to access crypto trading through familiar foreign-exchange interfaces, according to the bank's official announcement.