Standard Chartered, one of the world's largest banking institutions with $900 billion in assets, is making significant moves into the cryptocurrency sector. According to recent reports, the bank is actively preparing a crypto prime brokerage operation—a strategic push that signals growing mainstream financial adoption of digital assets.

This development reflects a broader trend where traditional banking powerhouses are recognizing the institutional demand for professional-grade crypto trading and custody services. Prime brokerage operations typically provide leveraged trading, clearing services, and risk management tools tailored for sophisticated investors and hedge funds.

Standard Chartered's move underscores how legacy financial institutions are no longer sidelining crypto but integrating it into their core business strategy, reshaping the competitive landscape of the digital asset ecosystem.