Standard Chartered and Coinbase have expanded their partnership to develop institutional digital asset services, covering trading, prime services, custody, staking and lending, as global banks and crypto firms continue to align to meet rising demand for regulated and secure access to digital markets.
Standard Chartered and Coinbase expand institutional crypto partnership
On December 12, 2025, Standard Chartered and @CoinbaseInsto announced an expansion of their existing Singapore banking partnership to jointly develop institutional-grade digital asset services.
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Expanded scope of institutional collaboration
The expanded collaboration was announced on December 12 by both companies in London, New York and Dubai.
It focuses on building a broad digital asset offering designed specifically for institutional clients across multiple jurisdictions.
The partnership will explore trading infrastructure, prime brokerage-style services, custody frameworks, staking solutions and lending products.
Both firms stated that the goal is to provide institutions with secure and compliant access to digital assets at scale.
The initiative builds on earlier cooperation rather than launching a standalone product immediately.
Development will take place within existing regulatory frameworks across the markets where both firms operate.
Building on the Singapore banking arrangement
The deeper partnership follows an existing relationship in Singapore between the two firms.
In that market, Standard Chartered provides banking connectivity enabling real-time Singapore dollar transfers for Coinbase customers.
The expanded collaboration builds on an existing banking arrangement between the firms in Singapore
This arrangement has supported Coinbase’s institutional and business-focused expansion in the region.
It has also demonstrated how traditional banking infrastructure can integrate with crypto-native platforms.
Both companies referenced the Singapore model as a foundation for broader institutional services.
The existing setup provides operational experience that can be adapted to other markets.
Combining global banking and crypto infrastructure
Standard Chartered brings cross-border banking, financing, and custody experience to the collaboration.
The bank has positioned itself as an active participant in regulated digital asset innovation.
The partnership combines traditional banking infrastructure with digital asset market technology
Coinbase contributes its institutional trading platform and digital asset market infrastructure.
The exchange has increasingly focused on serving banks, asset managers, and large financial institutions.
Together, the firms aim to offer a unified service framework similar to traditional financial markets.
The structure is designed to support digital assets using familiar institutional processes and controls.
Focus on governance, security and compliance
Executives from both firms stressed governance and risk management as central to the partnership.
Standard Chartered said it aims to support digital asset markets as they mature responsibly.
Margaret Harwood-Jones, the bank’s global head of financing and securities services, said the partnership supports secure and well-governed solutions.
Her comments were shared in company statements and echoed across social media posts following the announcement.
Coinbase Institutional Co-CEO Brett Tejpaul described the collaboration as focused on institutional-grade access.
He said the framework is intended to help institutions manage digital assets with confidence and operational clarity.
Institutional credibility and market context
The announcement comes as Coinbase continues to strengthen relationships with major financial institutions.
Banks have increasingly explored blockchain-based settlement and tokenized deposit models.
Recent market activity has shown growing use of Coinbase infrastructure by traditional finance players.
Industry commentary has noted this trend in posts circulated by analysts and institutional market participants.
Standard Chartered’s participation reflects wider banking sector engagement with digital asset services.
Several global banks have moved toward custody, settlement, and tokenization initiatives.
Prime services and institutional demand
Prime services remain a key requirement for institutional digital asset participation.
These services typically include custody, financing, settlement support and operational efficiency.
The partnership aims to mirror established financial market structures while operating on digital rails.
This approach is designed to address institutional expectations around reliability and control.
Institutional investors are seeking regulated access to trading, custody and digital asset services
By combining banking connectivity with crypto market access, the firms seek to reduce operational friction.
The focus remains on regulated access rather than retail-facing expansion.
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Gradual rollout and global focus
Neither company provided a specific timeline for product launches under the expanded partnership.
Both indicated that development will proceed in stages across selected jurisdictions.
The collaboration is intended to support institutions globally rather than a single regional market.
Cross-border functionality remains a core component of the planned services.
As shared in official statements and referenced in online industry discussions, both firms view the partnership as long-term.
The approach reflects a measured strategy aligned with regulatory expectations and institutional requirements.
