Standard Chartered to grow crypto custody via Zodia Solutions, eyes $1T market
Standard Chartered has put forward a non-binding offer to acquire Zodia Custody, targeting regulatory approval before bringing more crypto custody in-house. The bank plans to integrate Zodia Custody with its existing digital asset services to grow institutional revenue and reduce costs.
However, the deal will not absorb the entire custody operation. Instead, SC Ventures will create a new entity, “Zodia Solutions,” to run the technology and infrastructure platform. The platform is also expected to help institutions launch digital asset products and keep collaboration with Standard Chartered and other financial institutions.
Standard Chartered said it does not expect the transaction to disrupt existing custody clients, with services expected to continue as usual. The bank frames the move as an end-to-end digital assets push and a “trusted bridge” between TradFi and DeFi.
For traders, this is a further institutional-oriented crypto custody catalyst. With the custody market already surpassing $1T and projected to reach $7T by 2035, the news reinforces the long-term trend of regulated TradFi infrastructure expansion—more supportive for institutional access to BTC and ETH than a short-lived speculative theme.
Bullish
This is unlikely to change spot prices immediately, but it is a bullish signal for the underlying demand channel of regulated crypto custody. In the short term, the announcement can support sentiment around BTC and ETH exposure via institutional rails, especially because Standard Chartered expects no disruption to existing custody clients. In the long term, the creation of “Zodia Solutions” suggests banks will keep building scalable, bank-grade crypto custody infrastructure rather than relying on external providers, which typically strengthens perceived access and reduces operational uncertainty. Overall, the news supports a more constructive institutional narrative for the mentioned coins.