Standard Chartered to launch Digital Asset Custody Services in UAE

Standard Chartered to launch Digital Asset Custody Services in UAE

DUBAI - Standard Chartered has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to collaborate on digital assets, including digital asset custody.

Subject to regulatory approval, Standard Chartered plans to launch digital asset custody services, starting in DIFC and to cater to institutional clients worldwide. As a market leader in the Securities Services industry, Standard Chartered is an early mover in developing services to provide custody of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Drawing on its international expertise in traditional custody, its new services will be powered by its subsidiary Zodia Custody, which has best-in-class operational and technical capabilities suited to needs of institutional clients.

Signed at the Dubai FinTech Summit by Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, and Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered, the MoU aligns with Dubai’s vision to be at the forefront of the future of finance.

During the signing ceremony, Winters said, “We see digital assets as an important part of the future of financial services, and we are committed to investing in the infrastructure and talent necessary to be a leader in this space. The UAE's well-balanced approach to digital asset adoption and financial regulation makes it an ideal first market for us to