Standard Chartered is planning to absorb Zodia Custody into its corporate and investment bank division, consolidating its crypto custody operations as early as April 2026.
The restructuring would merge overlapping infrastructure between the bank’s internal digital asset unit and Zodia Custody, streamlining services and reducing operational redundancy.
The plan would keep Zodia Custody active as a standalone platform offering white-label custody services to third-party banks and fintech firms.
Standard Chartered declined to comment on the reported move, while minority stakeholders including Northern Trust, Emirates NBD, SBI Holdings, and National Australia Bank have not confirmed involvement in the discussions.
The integration reflects a strategic shift toward owning core digital asset infrastructure internally, rather than operating it through partially independent subsidiaries, as competition intensifies across institutional crypto custody markets.
Zodia Custody currently supports more than 75 digital assets across seven global offices and holds regulatory registrations in key jurisdictions including the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong.
The move comes as major financial institutions including BNY Mellon, State Street, and Morgan Stanley expand crypto custody offerings, accelerating consolidation and increasing competition among global banks.