Standard Chartered has signed definitive agreements to acquire Zodia Custody’s regulated operating entities, taking a further step into institutional cryptocurrency services. The transaction still requires regulatory approvals and must satisfy other closing conditions before it can be completed.
According to Cointelegraph, the agreement follows the acceptance by Zodia’s shareholders in May of a non-binding offer from the UK-based bank. The definitive agreements convert that earlier proposal into a formal transaction, although they do not yet represent a completed acquisition.
What Standard Chartered will acquire
Under the agreement, Standard Chartered would purchase 100% of Zodia Custody UK Limited. The company is the parent of Zodia’s regulated operating entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates.
Zodia provides cryptocurrency custody services, which are designed to safeguard digital assets on behalf of institutions. Standard Chartered said the custody business would be integrated into its existing Securities Services operations. Securities services typically support institutional clients with functions such as holding and administering assets, making the proposed integration relevant to the bank’s broader financial-services infrastructure.
The transaction is structured to separate Zodia’s custody operations from its technology and advisory assets. Zodia will transfer its software and professional-services businesses to Zodia Solutions, an independent entity operating under SC Ventures. That entity will provide digital-asset infrastructure to financial institutions.
Part of a wider crypto strategy
The proposed acquisition expands Standard Chartered’s existing involvement in digital assets rather than creating an entirely new line of activity for the bank. The lender was reported to have considered moving Zodia’s crypto-custody business into its corporate and investment banking division in April.
In September, Standard Chartered also launched spot trading in Bitcoin and Ether for institutional clients in the United Arab Emirates. Spot trading involves transactions in the underlying asset, rather than a derivative contract. Together with the planned custody integration, that move illustrates the range of crypto-related services the bank is developing for institutional customers.
The purchase remains subject to regulatory review in the relevant markets. Completion also depends on the other conditions set out in the definitive agreements, so the final timing and outcome of the transaction have not been provided in the source material.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at the stated times showed mixed performance among the listed digital assets:
- edgeX (EDGE): $0.2993068527, up 2.97% over 24 hours but down 7.63% over seven days, as of 12:58 p.m. on October 21, 2026.
- RedStone (RED): $0.1461916811, up 7.75% over 24 hours and down 4.81% over seven days, as of 12:59 p.m. on October 21, 2026.
- Propy (PRO): $0.349040721, up 1.12% over 24 hours and down 7.49% over seven days, as of 12:59 p.m. on October 21, 2026.
- Definitive (EDGE): $0.1321971121, up 15.76% over 24 hours and 23.32% over seven days, as of 7:13 a.m. on October 7, 2026.
These figures cover individual assets and do not measure the value or expected completion of Standard Chartered’s proposed acquisition.
