Standard Chartered is accelerating the institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. On February 11, the bank announced a strategic partnership with liquidity provider B2C2, aiming to link global banking infrastructure with deep digital asset liquidity, advancing regulated access to Bitcoin and Ethereum markets worldwide.
Partnership Details: Merging Bank Rails with Crypto Liquidity
The agreement connects Standard Chartered’s global banking network and settlement capabilities with B2C2’s deep liquidity across spot and options markets. Through this structure, B2C2’s institutional clients — including asset managers, hedge funds, corporates, and family offices — will gain direct connectivity to Standard Chartered’s network and settlement facilities, enabling them to execute crypto trades within a regulated framework and with reliable post-trade processes.
Luke Boland, Standard Chartered’s Head of Fintech in Asia, stated: “As digital assets move from the periphery to the core of global finance, we are enabling regulated, scalable market linkage without compromising execution or risk management.” Thomas Restout, Group CEO of B2C2, added: “Standard Chartered’s global reach, strong regulatory credentials, and commitment to digital assets make it an ideal strategic counterpart as we continue to expand our institutional footprint. Together, we are building a durable connectivity layer between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem.”
Standard Chartered’s Crypto Strategy: From Trading Desk to Custody
This alliance with B2C2 is the latest in a series of moves by Standard Chartered in the digital asset space. The systemically important bank has positioned itself as one of the most crypto-constructive traditional banks, with a strategy centered on institutional infrastructure and Ethereum’s utility.
In July 2025, the bank launched a spot crypto trading desk for Bitcoin and Ethereum; expanded custody through Zodia Custody; and introduced direct custody services in Hong Kong in January 2026. Additionally, its Digital Assets Research team, led by Geoffrey Kendrick, has labeled 2026 the “Year of Ethereum” and projects an end-2026 target of $7,500 for ETH, while setting a target of $250 for Solana and highlighting longer-term growth tied to tokenization.
Standard Chartered also forecasts that the stablecoin and tokenized real-world asset market could reach $2 trillion by 2028, underscoring its view that digital assets represent a structural upgrade to global financial infrastructure rather than a speculative niche.
Institutional Crypto Adoption: Reducing Friction, Enhancing Efficiency
The Standard Chartered-B2C2 partnership goes beyond liquidity connection. It reduces fiat-to-crypto friction while improving settlement speed and capital efficiency in regulated markets. For asset managers and hedge funds, this means they can execute large crypto trades more smoothly without compromising compliance.
Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, previously stated that the adoption of digital currencies is “absolutely inevitable.” This partnership further validates that view. As traditional banking giants deepen their crypto engagement, institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure is maturing, opening the door for broader market participants.