Standard Chartered Launches Crypto and Tokenized Asset Custody in Singapore

The expansion positions a major global bank to serve institutional clients in one of Asia's most active digital asset regulatory environments, with direct implications for US investors seeking...

Standard Chartered announced on October 8, 2026 that it will expand institutional custody services for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and real-world tokenized assets to Singapore, according to CoinDesk. The services will be available to institutions and accredited corporate investors, subject to local regulatory requirements.

The move marks a geographic extension of Standard Chartered's digital asset custody operations. The bank has previously built out crypto custody infrastructure through its Zodia Custody subsidiary, which it launched in partnership with Northern Trust. Zodia has operated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, making Singapore the next major jurisdiction in the bank's custody expansion.

Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulates digital asset service providers under the Payment Services Act, which was amended in 2021 to extend oversight to cryptocurrency exchanges and custodians. Standard Chartered's entry into Singapore custody is contingent on meeting those regulatory requirements, as stated in the CoinDesk report.

Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which involves representing ownership of physical or financial assets such as bonds, real estate, or commodities on a blockchain, has drawn growing interest from institutional investors. The Bank for International Settlements estimated in a 2024 working paper that tokenized assets under management could reach into the trillions of dollars over the coming decade, though precise near-term projections remain contested.

For US investors, the significance of this development lies in the growing infrastructure for institutional-grade custody outside the United States. US-based institutions that operate internationally may use custody services in Singapore to hold digital assets in a jurisdiction with an established regulatory framework, potentially affecting the flow of institutional capital into tokenized products.

The announcement comes as European regulators are tightening standards for crypto service providers. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) this week directed EU-based crypto firms to exit positions in stablecoins that do not comply with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, giving firms three months to address existing exposures, according to CoinTelegraph. The contrast between ESMA's restrictive posture and Singapore's structured licensing regime illustrates how different regulatory approaches are shaping where institutional crypto infrastructure is being built.

Greece separately announced plans to introduce a 10% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency profits, with an exemption for gains up to 500 euros (approximately $560) per year, according to CoinDesk. The bill is expected to be submitted to the Greek parliament in November 2026. The Greek measure adds to a pattern of national governments formalizing tax treatment of digital assets.

Standard Chartered's Singapore custody service targets institutions and accredited corporate investors, a category that in Singapore's legal framework refers to entities with net assets exceeding S$10 million (approximately $7.4 million at current exchange rates), as defined by MAS guidelines. This restricts access to the service from retail participants.

The bank has not disclosed a specific launch date for the Singapore custody operations, nor has it published fee structures or the full list of supported assets. Those details remain unknown and would be revealed through regulatory filings or subsequent public disclosures by the bank.

Standard Chartered reported total operating income of $19.0 billion for the full year 2025 in its annual report, reflecting the scale of the institution that is now allocating resources to digital asset infrastructure in Asia. The bank's commitment to the Singapore market aligns with its broader Asia-Pacific strategic focus, which the bank has cited in prior earnings communications as a core growth region.

The custody expansion is one of several indicators that large global banks are treating digital asset services as a durable line of business rather than a transitional product. Whether Singapore's regulatory environment proves more stable than competing jurisdictions over the medium term is unknown and would depend on future MAS policy decisions and international coordination on digital asset standards.