MV Capital | Standard Chartered Expands Digital Asset Custody to Singapore

Standard Chartered plans to offer institutional custody for selected cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets in Singapore, building on its existing global footprint and regulatory frameworks

Expansion Targets Institutional and Accredited Clients

Standard Chartered Bank announced plans to launch digital asset custody services in Singapore on October 8. The offering targets institutional clients and accredited investor corporate clients. It covers selected cryptoassets, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Services will operate under applicable regulatory requirements, with asset support subject to screening.

The move integrates with the bank’s Financing and Securities Services division. It brings together traditional asset servicing, tokenization and digital asset custody. This creates a connected global proposition for clients handling wider asset lifecycles.

Assets covered: Selected cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets
Clients: Institutional investors and accredited investor corporates
Condition: Subject to regulatory requirements

Singapore Positioned as Key Innovation Hub

Singapore serves as a leading financial and innovation center for the bank’s global strategy. Robust infrastructure remains critical for secure movement, safekeeping and servicing of tokenized assets at institutional scale. The bank highlights growing demand for trusted digital asset solutions among clients.

This expansion adds Singapore to an existing network of custody locations. The bank already operates in the UAE, Luxembourg and Hong Kong. It continues to build capabilities across key financial centers to support institutional participation.

Evolution of Custody Capabilities

The Singapore initiative builds on earlier steps in the bank’s digital asset strategy. In March 2026, Standard Chartered was named digital asset custodian and settlement agent for TP ICAP’s Fusion Digital Assets. In May 2026, shareholders accepted a non-binding offer for Zodia Custody’s regulated custody activities, subject to approvals.

Zodia Custody, backed by the bank’s venture arm SC Ventures, forms the foundation for these operations. The May consolidation effort brings regulated custody activities into the core bank structure. This enhances the bank’s institutional-grade infrastructure in Europe and beyond.

Broader Institutional Infrastructure Push

Standard Chartered maintains custody and related services in the UAE. These include spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether for institutional clients, along with banking agreements supporting fiat on- and off-ramps and client money accounts. The bank also holds MiCA-regulated custody in Europe through Zodia.

The Singapore addition complements existing fiat-linked capabilities, such as partnerships for Singapore dollar rails. It positions the bank to serve clients seeking regulated access to digital assets and blockchain-based products. No specific go-live date, named assets or fee details have been disclosed yet.

Quotes from Bank Leaders

“Singapore is an important centre for financial innovation, with a strong institutional ecosystem and growing demand for trusted digital asset solutions. Robust infrastructure will be critical to supporting the secure movement, safekeeping, and servicing of tokenised assets at an institutional scale. This marks a significant milestone as we prepare to bring our digital asset custody capabilities to clients in Singapore. It also reinforces our commitment to supporting the development of a secure and well-regulated digital asset ecosystem in the market.”Patrick Lee, CEO, Singapore and CEO, ASEAN & South Asia, Standard Chartered

“Secure and regulated custody is a critical foundation of the digital asset ecosystem. As a GSIB we provide the trust, security and institutional safeguards needed to support broader market participation and adoption, and we are pleased to bring this capability to Singapore. As client demand continues to grow, we will continue investing in our digital assets capabilities across key financial centres, connecting clients to opportunities through a secure, integrated and globally connected platform.”Ole Matthiessen, Global Head, Transaction Services & Digital Assets, Standard Chartered

Market Context and Client Focus

The announcement targets institutions rather than retail clients. It avoids offering trading, lending or staking in the region. Supported assets remain subject to further screening and regulatory clearance. The bank has not provided a full list of cryptocurrencies or timelines.

Overall, the development extends Standard Chartered’s institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure. It responds to client needs for secure, bank-grade solutions amid rising interest in tokenized assets and stablecoins. The plan remains subject to all applicable regulatory requirements in Singapore.