Standard Chartered to expand institutional crypto and RWA custody to Singapore
Standard Chartered has announced plans to launch institutional-grade custody services for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets in Singapore. This expansion targets institutional and accredited corporate clients, integrating digital asset management into the bank's existing financing and securities-services division. By leveraging its custody arm, Zodia, the bank aims to support the full lifecycle of assets, from traditional holdings to tokenized versions. This move follows the bank's recent acquisition of the remaining stake in Zodia Custody and the launch of spot bitcoin and ether trading in Dubai. The initiative underscores the growing institutional demand for regulated infrastructure to safeguard digital assets in key financial hubs. As Singapore solidifies its position as a major digital asset center, Standard Chartered's entry highlights the increasing convergence of traditional banking and blockchain-based finance. This development is significant for the RWA market as it provides the necessary institutional trust and regulatory framework required for large-scale adoption of tokenized assets.