Standard Chartered is exploring the launch of a crypto prime brokerage service aimed at institutional clients, reflecting a growing trend among global banks to focus on crypto market infrastructure. The London-based bank, which manages approximately $850 billion in assets, seeks to address rising professional demand for digital asset trading while minimizing balance sheet risk exposure. The proposed service would integrate trading, custody, financing, and risk management tools, facilitating more efficient trade management for institutions. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to capture institutional demand for digital asset services and will be housed within SC Ventures, Standard Chartered's innovation unit. This structure allows the bank to experiment with crypto services without direct balance sheet exposure, aligning with regulatory requirements under Basel III rules. The plan is still in early stages, with no set timeline for launch, but it underscores the bank's confidence in the growing institutional participation in the crypto market.