Standard Chartered is set to acquire all remaining shares in Zodia Custody and fold the company’s crypto custody operations into its own digital asset custody division. The move brings the institutional custody business directly under the bank’s structure and centralizes service delivery inside the group.
The bank has held a majority stake in Zodia Custody since 2021. Minority shareholders have included Northern Trust, Emirates NBD, National Australia Bank, and SBI Holdings. By purchasing the rest of the shares, Standard Chartered will move from majority ownership to full control of the custody company.
Custody operations move in-house while platform business is separated
Under the new structure, Zodia Custody’s crypto custody activities will be integrated with Standard Chartered’s digital asset unit. At the same time, the company’s institutional crypto infrastructure platform will be carved out and transferred to a separate business called Zodia Solutions.
Zodia Solutions will operate as an independent company under SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture capital arm. SC Ventures also holds a stake in Zodia Markets, another related firm. That setup points to a broader reshaping of the bank’s digital asset strategy rather than a pullback from the sector.
Institutional demand keeps pushing crypto custody forward
Large financial institutions have been increasing their presence in crypto custody as institutional investors look for stronger security and storage arrangements for digital assets. Zodia Custody has been known for providing blockchain-based asset custody tailored to financial institutions, with a clear emphasis on regulatory compliance and cybersecurity.
Earlier media reports had suggested that Standard Chartered was preparing to take full control of Zodia Custody and that the custody business might eventually operate as a distinct software service provider. The announced structure now draws a firmer line: custody is being absorbed into the bank’s digital asset business, while the infrastructure platform is being given a standalone path.
Transition management will be closely watched
The next phase is likely to center on execution. Industry participants will be watching how Zodia’s existing client base is handled, how its technical ecosystem is managed after the acquisition, and how regulatory requirements and global partnerships shape the direction of both entities.
Running Zodia Solutions as an independent venture within SC Ventures gives Standard Chartered room to back internal innovation while keeping part of its digital asset activity outside the core banking structure. That separation leaves space for new technologies, partnerships, and operating models as the institutional crypto market keeps evolving.
The deal also adds to the growing overlap between traditional banks and digital asset services. In this case, Standard Chartered is not just increasing ownership. It is redrawing the boundaries between custody, infrastructure, and venture-driven development.