Coinbase and Standard Chartered are expanding regulated crypto infrastructure for institutional clients

Coinbase and Standard Chartered have expanded their partnership to develop a broader range of crypto services, targeting institutional clients and focusing on regulated access to digital asset markets.

The collaboration centers on building trading, custody, staking, and lending capabilities designed to meet institutional requirements for security, compliance, and settlement efficiency. The partnership brings together Coinbase, a U.S.-listed cryptocurrency exchange, and Standard Chartered, a global bank with approximately $913 billion in assets. According to the companies, the initiative is focused on extending existing infrastructure rather than introducing new retail-facing products. 

Expansion builds on singapore banking connectivity

This new deal is based on a similar deal in Singapore, where Standard Chartered offers banking connectivity to Coinbase. In this arrangement, the bank will facilitate the real-time transfer of Singapore dollars to Coinbase customers, allowing them to settle their fiat within a shorter period as a result of crypto trading.

According to the expanded partnership, the companies will jointly develop institutional crypto prime services. These services will encompass trade execution, custody, financing, staking, and lending options, all conducted in regulated settings. Although no launch schedule or budgeting conditions were announced, both companies have targeted scaling access to institutional participants instead of modifying the current consumer products.

Standard Chartered announced that the partnership will enable it to expand digital asset services with its current banking system. Coinbase, in turn, offers trading implementation and access to the crypto market through its institutional platforms. According to the companies, this combination has helped support institutions that need compliant access points in gaining exposure to digital assets.

Institutional trading, custody, and settlement flexibility

Providing settlement and custody solutions to institutional clients is a key element of the partnership. Standard Chartered’s institutional customers will also be able to settle crypto trades with any custodian of their choice, including the bank itself. This structure will enable clients to retain their current custody and gain access to Coinbase’s liquidity and execution capabilities.

This is flexible for hedge funds, asset managers, and family offices that require unique settlement and custody solutions. The internal risk control and regulatory requirements of these customers are likely to be very strict, and the choice of custody and settlement is one of the main aspects to consider when dealing with digital assets.

Technically, these services are based on the risk management schemes of Standard Chartered and Coinbase’s trading infrastructure. In Singapore, the existing platform already supports real-time SGD transfers to Coinbase customers, thereby reducing the time lag in settling cross-border transactions.

Broader scope across institutions and enterprises

Besides institutional services, the collaboration also relates to the Coinbase Business operations in Singapore. Coinbase Business provides crypto-native operating accounts to startups and small to middle enterprises, allowing global payments and trading capabilities in a regulated environment. These services will be placed outside the institutional prime offerings and will share infrastructure.

According to Standard Chartered executives, the bank is leveraging its existing systems to meet the growing demand from its clients for regulated digital asset solutions. The global head of financing and securities services of the bank, Margaret Harwood-Jones, indicated that the companies are considering safe and interoperable solutions that comply with the set standards. Standard Chartered’s global head of trading and XVA, Tony Hall, also mentioned the growing demand from institutional clients to access digital assets in a regulated manner.

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