Standard Chartered's venture capital arm plans to launch a cryptocurrency prime brokerage business.

Standard Chartered Bank plans to establish a cryptocurrency prime brokerage business through its venture capital arm SC Ventures, offering services including custody, financing, and market access. It is currently in the early preparation stage. This move helps it avoid the Basel III capital requirements of up to 1250% for unlicensed crypto assets. Standard Chartered has previously been involved in crypto projects such as Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, and will become the first global systemically important bank to offer spot crypto trading in 2025.