Standard Chartered Taps B2C2 to Build "Connectivity Layer" for Institutional Crypto Trading

Standard Chartered has entered a strategic partnership with digital asset market maker B2C2, a move designed to bridge the gap between traditional banking infrastructure and the cryptocurrency markets for institutional clients.

The collaboration aims to integrate Standard Chartered’s extensive global banking and settlement "rails" with B2C2’s deep liquidity across spot and options markets. The initiative targets a sophisticated client base—including asset managers, hedge funds, and family offices—seeking to mitigate the counterparty risks and settlement friction often associated with fiat-to-crypto transactions.

The partnership underscores a broader trend of traditional financial institutions moving deeper into the digital asset space, particularly in Asia where adoption is accelerating. By offering direct connectivity to Standard Chartered’s custodial and settlement network, the firms intend to provide a regulated, seamless pathway for institutional capital to enter the crypto ecosystem.

"As digital assets move from the periphery to the core of global finance, we are enabling regulated, scalable market linkage without compromising execution or risk management," said Luke Boland, Head of Fintech, Asia, at Standard Chartered.

For B2C2, which is majority-owned by the Japanese financial conglomerate SBI, the deal represents a significant expansion of its institutional footprint. Thomas Restout, Group CEO of B2C2, cited the bank’s regulatory credentials as a key driver for the alliance.

"Together, we are building a durable connectivity layer between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem," Restout said.

B2C2, headquartered in the UK, serves as a primary liquidity provider for brokers, exchanges, and funds, offering 24/7 execution. This partnership is expected to bolster Standard Chartered’s existing suite of digital asset services, leveraging its presence across 54 dynamic markets to facilitate faster and more reliable settlement for large-scale trades.

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Japan FinTech ObserverNorbert Gehrke