UK bank Standard Chartered begins offering Bitcoin to wealthy UAE customers

On Wednesday, Standard Chartered, the British multinational bank, unveiled a bitcoin trading service aimed at wealthy clients in the United Arab Emirates.

According to Standard Chartered, this is the first offering of its kind by an international bank in the UAE.

The move follows the bank's launch of bitcoin trading for institutional clients in the UAE in the previous month. In 2025, Standard Chartered established a trading desk in London for bitcoin and other digital currencies, making it an early entrant among global banks into spot crypto trading.

Samir Subberwal, Standard Chartered's global head of wealth solutions, retail products, data and analytics, said: "As client interest in digital assets continues to grow, this launch represents a significant milestone for Standard Chartered as we bring digital assets into our core wealth offering."

Subberwal added: "With digital assets moving into mainstream wealth conversations, clients are increasingly looking not only for access, but also for the security, trust and confidence that comes from investing through a regulated and trusted institution."

Rola Abu Manneh, Standard Chartered's chief executive officer for the UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, stated: "We are proud to be the first international bank in the UAE to launch a cryptocurrency trading offering."

Clients will be able to purchase bitcoin directly through their bank accounts, according to Standard Chartered. No external apps or wallets are required.

The bank noted that it will handle all custody and settlement processes via a closed-loop model, which minimizes risks associated with third-party wallets.

Standard Chartered is broadening its cryptocurrency services internationally. Earlier this month, it announced plans to provide crypto custody for institutional clients in Singapore.

The bank currently provides the service in the UAE, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong.

Financial institutions globally are incorporating or offering bitcoin-related products and services.

Several U.S. and European banks have begun providing crypto services, such as custodial services for institutional assets. Others enable trading through their main mobile applications.