Standard Chartered weighs bringing Zodia Custody in-house
Standard Chartered is exploring an integration of Zodia Custody into its corporate bank division, according to Bloomberg reporting cited by multiple outlets on Tuesday. The British bank declined to comment, but sources close to the matter told Bloomberg that plans are in place and could be announced as soon as this month.
Zodia Custody was established as a standalone crypto custody provider with Standard Chartered as a founding shareholder alongside Northern Trust and SBI Holdings. Pulling it inside the bank's own divisional structure would mark a significant shift from that arm's-length model, consolidating crypto custody capabilities directly within Standard Chartered's balance sheet and client-service infrastructure.
CoinTelegraph reported that the restructuring would specifically bring parts of Zodia inside the investment bank, while The Block noted the target destination as the corporate bank arm. The slight discrepancy in reporting suggests the exact divisional home has not been publicly confirmed.
The timing is notable. Institutional appetite for regulated crypto custody has grown materially as digital-asset allocations expand among pension funds and asset managers, increasing the strategic value of owning such infrastructure outright rather than through a partially held affiliate.
