Standard Chartered Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire Zodia Custody

The bank will fold Zodia's regulated custody entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the UAE and Luxembourg into its Securities Services arm, while Zodia's software business is spun out as Zodia Solutions under SC Ventures. The deal still needs regulatory approvals; terms were not disclosed.

Standard Chartered Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire Zodia Custody — editorial cover artwork
Standard Chartered Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire Zodia Custody — editorial cover artwork

By Lucas Ferreira, Journalist, Crypto Infrastructure

Standard Chartered has signed definitive agreements to acquire Zodia Custody, the bank said on 21 October 2026. Its subsidiary Standard Chartered I H Limited will buy 100% of Zodia Custody Limited, the parent of Zodia's regulated operating entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Luxembourg.

The deal is signed, not completed. It is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Standard Chartered did not disclose a price or a target closing date. The agreements follow Zodia's acceptance of the bank's non-binding offer, which Fintech News Singapore reports took place in May 2026.

Custody moves inside the bank

After completion, Zodia's regulated digital asset custody business will be integrated into Standard Chartered's existing digital asset custody activities within Securities Services. The bank says the move will consolidate its custody businesses, unlock revenue synergies and support "a unified client offering that integrates both traditional and digital asset securities services for institutional clients, globally."

"The acquisition of Zodia Custody further deepens our digital asset custody portfolio," said Ying Ying Tan, Global Head of Securities Services and Digital Assets at Standard Chartered.

Standard Chartered says it expects no disruption to clients, and existing Zodia Custody clients continue to be served as usual.

The software business is spun out

Zodia will separate its digital asset software and professional services business and transfer those assets to Zodia Solutions, a new independent entity under SC Ventures, the bank's venture arm. Zodia Solutions will provide infrastructure to financial institutions, including Standard Chartered, that are launching digital asset services. Its listed backers are NAB Ventures, Northern Trust Corporation, SBI Ventures Asset, Q Studio (Further Ventures), Emirates NBD Bank, Zodia Investments (Investcorp) and Zodia Holdings, which is owned by SC Ventures. Craig Perrin is chief executive of Zodia Solutions.

Why it matters

The deal brings custody, the part of the business that holds client assets and needs a licence in each market, inside a global bank's securities services division. The technology, which can be sold to other banks, sits in a separate venture-backed company. Banks have often used venture-style subsidiaries to enter digital assets, and this deal moves the licensed custody activity onto the bank's balance sheet. The bank is betting that institutional clients want digital assets held alongside traditional securities, with one bank counterparty.

The five markets also matter for stablecoins and tokenised assets in Asia and the Gulf. Standard Chartered already said in October that it plans to offer institutional custody in Singapore covering cryptoassets, stablecoins and tokenised assets. The Zodia entities give it existing licensed operations in several of those markets once approvals are granted.

What happens next

Next come regulatory clearances in the relevant jurisdictions, completion of the deal and the formal separation of Zodia Solutions. Standard Chartered has not named the approving regulators or given a timetable.

Sources

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