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| Foto:standard Charters |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,HONG KONG, - The intersection of traditional banking and the volatile crypto world is set to witness a massive leap forward. Banking giant Standard Chartered is reportedly planning to launch full Bitcoin and Ether custody services in Hong Kong, with the market-first offering targeted for January 2026.
The move signifies a major commitment by the global bank to the digital asset ecosystem, particularly in Hong Kong, which is aggressively positioning itself as a leading international crypto hub.
The digital asset custody services will initially support Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ether ($ETH), the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. This service is designed primarily for institutional clients, offering them the security and regulatory assurance of a global bank to safeguard their digital holdings.
Mary Huen, CEO of Standard Chartered Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, confirmed the plans during the recent Hong Kong FinTech Week, highlighting the bank's initiative to unveil a pipeline of new digital offerings next year.
"The market-first digital assets custody services supporting Bitcoin and Ether in Hong Kong target to be available in January 2026," Huen stated.
This new Hong Kong offering will complement Standard Chartered's existing custody services which are already operational in other key financial centers, including Luxembourg (serving the EU market) and the UAE (via the Dubai International Financial Centre).
The launch aligns perfectly with Hong Kong's push to become a regulated and innovative hub for digital assets. For institutional investors, the primary concern has always been the security and regulatory clarity surrounding crypto custody. By having a major, regulated global bank like Standard Chartered step in, it provides an unprecedented level of trust and stability.
Security: Institutional-grade custody minimizes the risks associated with hacks, loss of private keys, and operational failures common in less regulated environments.
Expansion: The bank is leveraging its existing digital asset strategy, which already includes launching digital asset trading for institutional clients and participation in stablecoin initiatives.
The full-service custody will provide a crucial bridge, making it easier and safer for large funds, corporations, and financial institutions to allocate capital into the burgeoning crypto market.
Standard Chartered has been a major proponent of the long-term potential of digital assets. The bank has frequently issued optimistic forecasts for Bitcoin's price and is actively involved in other crypto ventures, including its digital asset arm, Zodia Custody.
The phased global rollout, starting with the UAE, expanding to the EU (Luxembourg), and now targeting a major launch in Hong Kong, underscores the bank’s belief that digital assets are not a fleeting trend, but a fundamental shift in the fabric of finance.
This move solidifies the trend where established financial players are integrating crypto services into their core business, paving the way for further mainstream adoption and institutional validation of the digital asset space.