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Standard Chartered Ventures Targets $250M Digital Assets Fund With Middle East Investor: Bloomberg

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Standard Chartered enterprise arm, SC Ventures, plans to boost $250 million for a fund devoted to digital property within the monetary providers sector, Bloomberg reported. The fund is anticipated to launch in 2026, with participation from traders within the Middle East.

Operating member Gautam Jain revealed the plans in the course of the Money 20/20 fintech occasion in Riyadh on Monday, signaling the agency’s intention to broaden its position within the rising world fintech and digital property ecosystem.

According to Jain, the capital will fund monetary providers, significantly in sectors like tokenization, blockchain know-how, and different regulated digital asset performs.

SC Ventures Eyes $100M Africa Fund, Expands Crypto Strategy

Alongside the $250 million initiative, SC Ventures goals to create a $100 million fund for Africa. The unit can be contemplating its first enterprise debt fund as a part of its wider technique. Jain didn’t verify whether or not the Africa or debt funds will particularly goal digital property or fintech startups.

Founded in 2018, SC Ventures was established to again know-how startups and develop modern initiatives for Standard Chartered. The agency launched operations in Saudi Arabia in January 2025 and intends to create a devoted workforce within the kingdom.

By 2026, it plans to ascertain a home Saudi fund specializing in minority investments and new enterprise launches.

The growth provides to Standard Chartered’s increasing digital asset technique. Earlier this yr, the financial institution turned the primary globally vital financial institution to offer spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum by means of its U.Ok. department.

It has additionally superior tokenization by way of its blockchain platform, Libeara, and teamed up with exchanges such as OKX to present collateral options involving cryptocurrencies and tokenized cash market funds.

Similarly, Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) earlier partnered with Animoca Brands and HKT to launch an HKD-backed stablecoin underneath HKMA’s new regime, aiming to enhance cost effectivity and drive wider adoption of digital property in Hong Kong and past.

In the early days of 2025, Standard Chartered secured a Luxembourg license to present crypto custody underneath the EU’s MiCA framework. The transfer leverages Luxembourg’s robust regulatory atmosphere to fulfill rising consumer demand. This got here after the bank launched crypto custody services in the UAE after acquiring a DFSA license in Dubai.

MENA Fintech Surges as Standard Chartered Expands; Africa Heats Up

Notably, the timing of this SC Ventures announcement coincides with speedy progress within the Middle East and North Africa fintech sector. While the traders weren’t talked about in Standard Chartered, Binance received a record $2B stablecoin funding from Abu Dhabi’s MGX earlier this yr, giving the agency a minority stake and advancing AI–blockchain integration.

Weeks later, the Saudi Central Bank took its first oblique step into Bitcoin by buying 25,656 shares, $60 billion, of Strategy, suggesting steady digital asset publicity within the area.

According to knowledge platform Magnitt, fintech startups within the area raised $274 million within the first half of 2025, with Saudi Arabia main the best way. Investment exercise was concentrated in cost options, lending, and insurance coverage.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia goals to host 500 fintech firms by 2030, in contrast with fewer than 300 right now. The Money 20/20 Riyadh occasion mirrored this ambition, drawing greater than 1,000 traders and 150 startups to the dominion.

Alongside SC Ventures’ plans, a number of vital offers have been unveiled on the convention. Saudi funds supplier Hala raised $157 million in one of many area’s largest early-stage funding rounds, led by TPG and Sanabil, a unit of the Public Investment Fund.

Buy now, pay later agency Tamara secured an asset-backed facility of as much as $2.4 billion from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. In one other growth, STV and Wamid, the know-how arm of the Saudi Tadawul Group, agreed to launch the nation’s first buying and selling platform for personal property.

Global know-how gamers additionally made bulletins. Google confirmed the rollout of Google Pay and Google Wallet in Saudi Arabia, with providers out there initially to Al Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank prospects. Meanwhile, ride-hailing agency inDrive mentioned it’ll start operations within the kingdom later this month.

Notably, Blockchain.com introduced the opening of Nigeria’s first major international crypto workplace whereas additionally concentrating on Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa in its African enlargement.

Similarly, Ripple partnered with Chipper Cash to energy low-cost, sooner cross-border funds throughout 9 nations, and Coinbase teamed up with stablecoin alternate Yellow Card to expand access in 20 nations. Together, these strikes highlighted Africa’s rising position in world crypto adoption.

The submit Standard Chartered Ventures Targets $250M Digital Assets Fund With Middle East Investor: Bloomberg appeared first on Cryptonews.

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