Standard Chartered and Coinbase have expanded their collaboration to explore a broader suite of institutional digital asset services, including trading, prime services, custody, staking, and lending. The companies announced the move on 12 December in London, New York, and Dubai, positioning the partnership to address core institutional requirements such as compliance, secure asset storage, and market access.
Expanded partnership targets institutional market
The initiative focuses on building crypto infrastructure tailored to professional investors. While specific launch timelines were not disclosed, the companies said they will work together to design and assess a range of services commonly bundled within institutional “prime” offerings.
- Trading and execution
- Prime services and financing
- Institutional-grade custody
- Staking
- Lending
Prime services in digital assets typically combine execution, financing, and custody to streamline access to liquidity venues under robust risk and compliance controls. The collaboration aims to bring these components together within a regulated framework suited to asset managers, hedge funds, corporates, and other large investors.
Building on existing collaboration
The announcement extends an existing relationship between the firms. In Singapore, Standard Chartered provides banking connectivity that enables real-time SGD transfers for Coinbase customers, supporting local fiat on- and off-ramps aligned with regulatory requirements.
Why it matters
Institutional participation in digital assets continues to hinge on secure custody, transparent market structure, and clear compliance pathways. By pairing Coinbase’s exchange and custody capabilities with Standard Chartered’s global banking infrastructure, the partnership seeks to lower operational and regulatory barriers to entry for large clients.
The move also follows broader regulatory progress in the sector. Coinbase previously secured approval in the United States to offer federally regulated crypto futures to eligible customers, reflecting a gradual integration of digital asset services into established financial frameworks.
What’s next
The companies did not provide a rollout schedule or product-level details. The partnership will initially concentrate on evaluating and developing services across the identified areas, with updates expected as offerings are formalized and regulatory considerations are addressed.