Standard Chartered Plans 250 Million Dollar Crypto Fund Launch For 2026
Cointelegraph reports that Standard Chartered's venture capital arm SC Ventures plans to raise $250 million for a cryptocurrency investment fund. The fund targets a 2026 launch date with backing from Middle Eastern investors.
Operating partner Gautam Jain revealed the plans at the Money 20/20 event in Saudi Arabia on Monday. The fund will focus on digital asset investments within the financial services sector globally. SC Ventures also plans to launch a separate $100 million fund for African market investments.
The announcement comes as Standard Chartered recently raised concerns about falling market net asset values among digital asset treasury firms. Several high-profile companies have slipped below the critical one mNAV level since June 2025.
Growing Institutional Appetite Drives Market Expansion
The Standard Chartered fund represents part of a broader institutional investment surge in cryptocurrency markets. JPMorgan forecasts a $60 billion inflow of institutional crypto investments by 2025, driven by U.S. regulatory clarity.
Recent data shows an 11-week consecutive rise in crypto fund inflows, with Bitcoin-related products accounting for 83% of new institutional assets. This pattern reflects growing confidence among institutional stakeholders seeking portfolio diversification amid economic volatility.
We recently reported that institutional adoption has accelerated significantly in 2025, with major financial players including BlackRock and Fidelity expanding cryptocurrency product offerings. Deutsche Bank announced its own crypto custody service launch timeline for 2026, demonstrating the banking sector's measured approach to digital asset infrastructure.
Middle East Emerges As Strategic Digital Asset Hub
Standard Chartered's choice of Middle Eastern backing aligns with the region's rapid emergence as a global cryptocurrency center. The UAE received over $30 billion in crypto transactions between July 2023 and June 2024, ranking among the top 40 countries globally.
Abu Dhabi's MGX recently invested $2 billion in Binance, representing the largest institutional investment in a crypto company to date. This move demonstrates sovereign wealth funds' increasing comfort with digital asset exposure.
The Middle East's comprehensive regulatory frameworks have attracted global crypto businesses and institutional investors. Dubai's VARA and Abu Dhabi's FSRA provide licensing structures that enable traditional financial institutions to enter the digital asset space with regulatory clarity. Saudi Arabia's zero personal capital gains tax policy and growing fintech ecosystem further enhance the region's appeal for crypto investment initiatives.
