Standard Chartered is expanding its institutional custody partnership with crypto exchange OKX across the European Economic Area, emphasizing increased institutional confidence in regulated digital assets.

Margaret Harwood-Jones of Standard Chartered explains that the partnership leverages existing custody infrastructure to ensure security and compliance for institutional clients.

This collaboration allows clients to securely hold assets with Standard Chartered, a globally significant bank, while mirroring those balances on OKX for trading, thereby enhancing security and liquidity.

The announcement comes amid recent enforcement actions against illicit crypto networks, underscoring the importance of strict controls and regulatory trust in the evolving crypto landscape.

Building on a previous program launched in the UAE, this new model emphasizes a separation between trading and custody, mirroring traditional finance practices, which is less common in crypto.

This collaboration extends an earlier initiative in the UAE to the European Economic Area, marking a significant step toward a compliant, bank-backed digital asset infrastructure.

The partnership aims to create a safer, more reliable European crypto ecosystem, facilitating global digital asset trading and safeguarding.

OKX's recent acquisition of a MiCA license under the EU framework in early 2025 reinforces its commitment to the European market and aligns with regulatory clarity.

This partnership reflects OKX's strategic shift to onshore operations by expanding local licenses and working closely with regulators, supporting its long-term European presence.

The collaboration signifies a maturing of Europe's crypto ecosystem, highlighting increased institutional participation and the integration of traditional banking security with digital assets.

This development sets a new industry standard for institutional crypto custody by combining traditional banking strengths with crypto expertise, fostering mainstream adoption.

The program enhances trust and security by enabling clients to store assets with a regulated bank, especially after market turmoil in October led to a $20 billion liquidation event and increased scrutiny of exchanges.