Standard Chartered Zodia Custody Acquisition Advances with Signed Definitive Agreements

On October 21, 2026, Standard Chartered announced that its subsidiary Standard Chartered I H Limited signed definitive agreements to acquire 100 percent of Zodia Custody Limited. The transaction follows shareholder and noteholder acceptance of a non-binding offer made in May 2026, with completion now subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Timeline and Regulatory Entities in the Standard Chartered Zodia Custody Acquisition

Initial targets placed definitive agreements by the end of June 2026 and closing by the end of August. Those milestones shifted, leading to the October 21 announcement. Zodia Custody operates regulated entities in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the UAE, and Luxembourg. These licenses cover digital asset custody and related institutional services.

Upon completion, the custody operations will move into Standard Chartered’s Securities Services business unit. The bank already holds licenses for digital asset activities in Luxembourg under MiCA rules and offers services in the UAE and Hong Kong. Integration aims to combine these capabilities with Zodia’s existing client base and compliance framework.

Zodia Custody began as a joint venture in 2020 and 2021 through SC Ventures, with Standard Chartered holding approximately 70 percent. Minority stakes belonged to Northern Trust, Emirates NBD, NAB, and SBI. In 2023, SBI led a 36 million dollar funding round. Standard Chartered developed parallel in-house custody solutions during the same period.

Separation of Infrastructure Platform and Planned Integration Steps

Under the agreements, Zodia’s software and institutional digital asset infrastructure platform will transfer to a new independent entity named Zodia Solutions. This entity will operate under SC Ventures, with Standard Chartered remaining a customer. Backing for Zodia Solutions comes from Northern Trust, NAB Ventures, SBI Ventures, and Emirates NBD Bank.

Financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed. The stated objectives include revenue and cost synergies plus expanded offerings for institutional clients worldwide. Margaret Harwood-Jones, Global Head of Financing and Securities Services at Standard Chartered, stated that the acquisition accelerates the bank’s global digital assets custody growth and strengthens its end-to-end offering between traditional finance and decentralized finance.

Zodia Custody’s official update described the move as a natural progression amid rising institutional adoption of digital assets. Client operations are expected to continue without interruption during the transition period. After closing, custody activities will run on Standard Chartered’s platform while Zodia Solutions maintains standalone operation of its technology assets.

Next Regulatory Milestones and Market Positioning

Remaining steps center on securing required regulatory approvals across the jurisdictions where Zodia Custody holds licenses. Once approvals are obtained, the parties will proceed to closing and subsequent integration. Standard Chartered’s existing securities services infrastructure provides the operational base for absorbing the custody business.

The acquisition consolidates Standard Chartered’s position in institutional digital asset custody. It combines the bank’s direct regulatory licenses with Zodia’s multi-jurisdiction footprint and client relationships. Zodia Solutions will continue to develop infrastructure tools, serving both Standard Chartered and external institutional users through its investor consortium.