Standard Chartered to Launch Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Desk in London

Standard Chartered, the British banking giant, is set to introduce a Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) trading desk based in London. According to Bloomberg, anonymous sources indicate that the bank is preparing to enter the spot market crypto trading space. The new desk is reportedly nearing its launch, although no exact date has been provided. This initiative will integrate into the bank’s existing foreign exchange trading services.

Standard Chartered confirmed to Bloomberg via email, “We have been working closely with our regulators to support demand from our institutional clients to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum, in line with our strategy to support clients across the wider digital asset ecosystem, from access and custody to tokenization and interoperability.”

Last year, the bank introduced Libeara, a blockchain platform designed to assist firms with tokenizing real-world assets. This move aligns with Standard Chartered’s broader strategy to engage with the digital asset sector comprehensively.

Earlier this year, the bank’s analysts increased their 2025 price prediction for Bitcoin by 50%, attributing the revision to the success of spot market Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) approved by regulators in January. The bank raised its 2025 price target for Bitcoin from $100,000 to $150,000.