Best Crypto Wallets To Trade With Now As Standard Chartered Launches Bitcoin And Ethereum Trading

On July 15, 2025, Standard Chartered announced the launch of spot trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum, becoming the first major global bank to offer direct access to these digital assets through a regulated platform.

The offering, based in the UK, is available to institutional clients such as asset managers, professional traders, and corporate treasuries. Where does that leave the average investor though, and can the best crypto wallets or exchanges compete?

Details of the Offering

The new service enables clients to trade BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs via Standard Chartered’s existing foreign exchange platforms.

In contrast to derivatives or synthetic products, spot trading refers to the direct purchase or sale of digital assets, with immediate settlement and transfer of ownership.

Clients can choose to custody their crypto with Standard Chartered’s in-house solution or a third-party provider, such as Zodia Custody, which the bank co-owns.

The trading desk will operate initially during Asia and European market hours, with plans to expand coverage depending on client demand.

A Broader Strategy

This move builds on Standard Chartered’s ongoing digital asset strategy:

In 2024, the bank launched custody services in the UAE and Luxembourg, aiming to serve clients under evolving crypto regulatory frameworks, including the EU’s MiCA.

The bank has also supported the development of Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, two institutional-facing crypto platforms.

Future plans include rolling out non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) for digital assets, offering synthetic exposure without direct ownership.

Market Context

Standard Chartered’s announcement arrives at a time of increasing regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions. In the U.S., for example, the recent “Crypto Week” saw lawmakers advance several bills designed to establish clearer rules for custody, trading, and stablecoins.

At the same time, self-custody remains a foundational principle for many participants in the crypto ecosystem.

While institutional clients may prefer the risk-managed environment offered by regulated custodians, many retail investors continue to advocate for holding private keys directly in their own secure crypto wallet – especially in light of past exchange failures and concerns about counterparty risk.

The ability to choose between self-custody and institutional custody reflects a more mature, flexible digital asset landscape.

The bank’s move may signal a broader shift toward traditional financial institutions offering direct access to digital assets under existing risk and compliance structures.

Which Banks will Follow Next?

Standard Chartered is now the first global systemically important bank to offer regulated spot trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

While the service currently targets institutional clients through its UK entity, this move builds on the bank’s long-standing involvement in crypto markets – including bold forecasts like its early 2025 prediction of Bitcoin reaching $500,000.

This pioneering step may pave the way for other major banks to follow. Institutions such as HSBC, Barclays, and Citi, which have increasingly shown interest in digital assets, could soon launch regulated crypto trading services to meet rising client demand.

A Balanced Future: Institutional and Self-Custody Options

The development underscores how traditional finance and digital assets are increasingly converging, particularly under frameworks that emphasize regulatory compliance and institutional-grade infrastructure.

Standard Chartered’s launch highlights the growing maturity of the crypto ecosystem, where institutional-grade custody solutions coexist alongside the fundamental principle of self-custody.

While regulated custody services provide ease for institutional clients, many investors continue to value the sovereignty and control that come with holding their own private keys.

Best Crypto Wallets to Trade With Now

Standard Chartered’s latest rollout marks a decisive shift in the crypto landscape – one that heightens the rivalry for market relevance between custodial and non-custodial solutions

However, unsurprisingly, retail investors continue to tilt in favor of self-custody, owing to the full freedom that comes with managing their own private keys and assets

It’s little wonder that top brands in this niche, particularly those that seamlessly strike a balance between security and innovation, are gaining traction by the day.

Among them is Best Wallet, a secure, multichain wallet, specially designed for investors who cherish the sovereignty and control that come with self-custody

But self-custody is only part of the appeal. Best Wallet is built with user security in mind, featuring a host of cutting-edge tools such as Fireblocks to protect against wallet-targeted phishing exploits that continue to spread across the crypto landscape

Crypto trading is another major aspect where Best Wallet excels. At its core, it delivers a full suite of tools built for today’s fast-paced market

Among the most popular trading features on Best Wallet are cross-chain swaps, fiat on-ramps, staking, iGaming, and most importantly, the token launchpad, making it a complete ecosystem for all things crypto

Investors can securely store, buy, trade, and swap their favorite assets without providing their personal details – no KYC checks, email sign-ups, nothing – ensuring users do not have their data exposed to security breaches

All of this, and more have made Best Wallet a strong contender for the best self-custody wallet to trade with in 2025

Download Best Wallet

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