Standard Chartered Enables Bitcoin and Ether Access for UAE Clients Through Bank Accounts

Standard Chartered said on Oct. 14 2026 that eligible affluent clients in the UAE can now buy and sell bitcoin and ether directly through their existing Standard Chartered bank accounts.

Service Details

The offering operates as a closed loop service. Transactions stay inside the bank’s own system. The bank handles custody and settlement from end to end. No separate wallet or outside platform is required for trades.

Eligible clients gain access to bitcoin and ether. The service begins with Professional Investor clients in the UAE. The bank plans to expand the offering to other markets over time though no dates have been given for further rollouts.

Collaboration Behind the Launch

The service results from work across the bank’s Wealth and Retail Banking and Corporate and Investment Banking units. SC Ventures backed Zodia Markets also contributed to the build. This setup extends the bank’s existing digital asset work that already spans custody trading and tokenisation through Zodia Markets and Libeara.

Clients already have some crypto exposure options through the bank. These include crypto ETF access on the cash equities platform along with structured products and OTC derivatives. The new trading solution adds direct buy and sell capability for the two major assets.

Statements From Bank Leaders

Samir Subberwal the bank’s global head of wealth solutions retail products data and analytics noted that the launch brings digital assets into the core wealth offering. The move aligns with growing client interest in this area.

Rola Abu Manneh the bank’s chief executive for the UAE Middle East and Pakistan described the UAE as a natural starting point. The location reflects its approach to innovation and its growth in digital assets.

Client Context

The bank states that affluent and high net worth investors are increasingly considering digital assets as part of diversified portfolios. The new solution makes bitcoin and ether available inside familiar banking relationships rather than through separate platforms.

The announcement came in a release dated from Singapore on Oct. 14 2026. The service went live for the initial group of clients on that date. Expansion beyond the UAE remains a plan without a set timeline.

Broader Digital Asset Work

Standard Chartered continues to develop its digital asset capabilities across multiple areas. The current launch focuses on trading for eligible clients in one market. Future steps will depend on how the offering performs and how demand develops in additional regions.

The bank positions the service as a way to meet client needs for secure access within an established banking framework. Custody and settlement remain internal which keeps all activity inside the bank’s ecosystem.