Standard Chartered Prepares Crypto Prime Brokerage via Venture Arm
Standard Chartered is advancing its digital asset ambitions by developing a cryptocurrency prime brokerage under SC Ventures, its innovation-focused subsidiary. The MOVE signals the bank's strategic pivot to capture institutional crypto flows while avoiding direct exposure within its core investment bank.
The London-based lender, already a leader among global banks in crypto infrastructure, has incubated ventures like Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets. This follows its July 2023 milestone as the first systemically important bank to offer spot crypto trading to institutions.
SC Ventures’ December disclosure of Project37C—a digital asset platform for custody, tokenization, and market access—hinted at these brokerage capabilities. The initiative aligns with accelerating competition among bulge-bracket banks to service institutional crypto demand.
