Crypto Goes Mainstream as Standard Chartered Deepens Digital Asset Push

Standard Chartered and B2C2 Expand Institutional Crypto Market Access

Institutional crypto adoption is accelerating as traditional banks deepen their involvement in digital assets. Standard Chartered announced a strategic partnership with B2C2 on Feb. 11 to expand institutional access to crypto markets by linking global banking infrastructure with institutional-grade liquidity.

Standard Chartered’s Head of Fintech in Asia, Luke Boland, stated:

“As digital assets move from the periphery to the core of global finance, we are enabling regulated, scalable market linkage without compromising execution or risk management.”

The agreement connects Standard Chartered’s global banking rails and settlement capabilities with B2C2’s deep liquidity across spot and options markets. Through the collaboration, B2C2 will provide its institutional client base, including asset managers, hedge funds, corporates, and family offices, with future direct connectivity to the bank’s network and settlement facilities. The structure is designed to combine regulated banking services with crypto execution, risk controls, and reliable post-trade processes.

Group CEO Thomas Restout explained: “Standard Chartered’s global reach, strong regulatory credentials, and commitment to digital assets make it an ideal strategic counterpart as we continue to expand our institutional footprint. Together, we are building a durable connectivity layer between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem.”

Beyond the B2C2 alliance, Standard Chartered has positioned itself as one of the most crypto-constructive global systemic banks, with a strategy centered on institutional infrastructure and Ethereum’s utility. Its Digital Assets Research team, led by Geoffrey Kendrick, has labeled 2026 the “Year of Ethereum” and projects an end-2026 target of $7,500 for ETH, while setting targets of $250 for solana and highlighting longer-term growth tied to tokenization.

The bank launched a spot crypto trading desk in July 2025 for bitcoin and ethereum, expanded custody through Zodia Custody, and introduced direct custody services in Hong Kong in January. It also forecasts the stablecoin and tokenized real-world asset market could reach $2 trillion by 2028, underscoring its view that digital assets represent a structural upgrade to global financial infrastructure rather than a speculative niche.

FAQ ⏰

• What does the Standard Chartered and B2C2 partnership enable?
  It links global banking rails with institutional-grade crypto liquidity for bitcoin and ethereum trading.
• How will institutional clients benefit from the collaboration?
  Asset managers, hedge funds, corporates, and family offices gain direct connectivity to regulated banking and settlement infrastructure.
• Which crypto markets are included in the agreement?
  The partnership covers spot and options markets across major digital assets.
• Why is this partnership significant for institutional crypto adoption?
  It reduces fiat-to- crypto friction while improving settlement speed and capital efficiency in regulated markets.