Standard Chartered unlocks direct bitcoin and ether trading for affluent UAE clients

Standard Chartered has launched direct bitcoin and ether trading for affluent clients in the UAE, managing custody and settlement in-house through a closed-loop model that eliminates the need for separate crypto wallets. This move by a major global bank signals growing institutional adoption and provides a regulated, convenient pathway for high-net-worth individuals to gain crypto exposure. Traders may view this as a positive step for mainstream acceptance and potential capital inflows into BTC and ETH from the region.