Standard Chartered Zodia Custody Acquisition Moves Forward With Signed Agreements

Standard Chartered announced on 21 October 2026 that it had signed definitive agreements to acquire 100 percent of Zodia Custody Limited through its subsidiary Standard Chartered I H Limited. The transaction covers the parent company of several regulated operating entities and follows a non-binding offer accepted by shareholders and noteholders in May 2026.

Transaction Terms and Integration Plans

The acquisition will bring Zodia Custody’s regulated digital asset custody operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Luxembourg into Standard Chartered’s Securities Services division. Once completed, the move consolidates the bank’s custody businesses and seeks revenue synergies through a unified platform serving both traditional and digital assets for institutional clients. No financial terms, valuation, or expected closing date were disclosed in the announcement. The deal remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions in the relevant jurisdictions.

Existing Zodia Custody clients are expected to continue receiving uninterrupted service during the transition period. Zodia Custody’s digital asset software and professional services business will separate from the custody operations and transfer to a newly formed independent entity named Zodia Solutions. This entity will operate under SC Ventures and supply bank-grade infrastructure to financial institutions, including Standard Chartered itself.

Company Background and Market Context

Zodia Custody launched around 2020 as a joint venture between SC Ventures and Northern Trust to provide institutional-grade custody for crypto and other digital assets. Standard Chartered has separately expanded its own digital asset capabilities through licenses obtained in Luxembourg, Hong Kong, and the UAE, along with planned services in Singapore. The current transaction builds on that foundation by bringing the custody activities fully inside the bank’s Securities Services unit.

Zodia Solutions will continue under SC Ventures with backing from investors that include NAB Ventures, Northern Trust, SBI Ventures Asset, Further Ventures, Emirates NBD, Investcorp, and SC Ventures. The separation allows the software and services business to maintain an independent structure while still supporting institutional clients scaling their digital asset offerings.

Next Steps and Regulatory Process

Completion of the acquisition depends on obtaining regulatory clearances across multiple jurisdictions. Standard Chartered has not provided a timeline for closing. After the custody assets transfer, Zodia Solutions is expected to begin independent operations under its new structure. Standard Chartered executives stated that the combined capabilities will deepen the bank’s digital asset custody portfolio and support broader institutional-grade services globally.