According to Decrypt, Standard Chartered has received regulatory approval in Dubai that permits certain high-net-worth clients from the United Arab Emirates to purchase Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through their bank accounts. The offering allows these clients to trade the cryptocurrencies without needing external platforms.
The bank retains full custody of client holdings and handles settlement internally, meaning transactions remain managed within its own systems rather than being transferred to third-party providers. No additional infrastructure or partner services are mentioned in the approval details.
This development marks Standard Chartered’s entry into on‑platform Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for qualifying UAE clients under Dubai regulatory guidelines. The move aligns with the bank’s strategy to expand digital asset services while maintaining in‑house control over custody and settlement processes.
