Standard Chartered to Acquire Crypto Custodian Zodia Custody

acquire crypto custodian — British multinational bank Standard Chartered has signed an agreement to acquire Zodia Custody, a London-based digital asset custodian, in a move to expand its institutional crypto services.

The acquisition, which was approved by Zodia’s shareholders in May, will see the custodian’s operations integrated into Standard Chartered’s existing digital asset custody activities. The bank currently offers these services in several jurisdictions, including the UAE, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong, and recently announced plans to launch them in Singapore.

“As institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates, custody is increasingly becoming part of the global banking landscape,” said Zodia Custody CEO Richard Clark. He stated that combining Zodia’s specialist expertise with Standard Chartered’s global reach would strengthen the bank’s offering and provide institutions with greater access to regulated custody services worldwide.

The deal marks a continued expansion by Standard Chartered into crypto, following its 2025 launch of a spot cryptocurrency trading desk in London. The move reflects a broader trend of major global banks, including State Street and Citigroup, committing to direct crypto custody services over the past 18 months.