Update
Standard Chartered Adds Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading to Wealthy UAE Clients
Standard Chartered, a British bank, has won regulatory approval to let wealthy clients in the United Arab Emirates buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly from their bank accounts. The service, which runs under Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), eliminates the need for clients to use separate wallets or third-party platforms. Trades are executed within the bank's own ecosystem, and custody and settlement are handled end-to-end by Standard Chartered, reducing clients' exposure to third-party wallet risk. The move represents a significant milestone for Standard Chartered as it brings digital assets into its core wealth offering.