logo
StanChart launches bitcoin, ether spot trading for institutional clients

StanChart launches bitcoin, ether spot trading for institutional clients

CNA5 days ago
HONG KONG :Standard Chartered has introduced spot trading for bitcoin and ether through its UK branch for institutional clients to cater to rising demand for crypto assets.
The UK-headquartered bank said on Tuesday it is the first global systemically important bank to offer secure, regulated and scalable access to bitcoin and ether deliverable spot trading.
Institutional clients, including corporates, investors and asset managers, can now trade digital assets through familiar FX interfaces, and will soon be offered non-deliverable forwards trading, StanChart said in a statement.
"As client demand accelerates further, we want to offer clients a route to transact, trade and manage digital asset risk safely and efficiently within regulatory requirements," Chief Executive Bill Winters said in the statement.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Exclusive-Tesla IT exec with no traditional car-sales experience is running sales, sources say
Exclusive-Tesla IT exec with no traditional car-sales experience is running sales, sources say

CNA

time2 days ago

  • CNA

Exclusive-Tesla IT exec with no traditional car-sales experience is running sales, sources say

A relatively little-known information technology executive is running Tesla's sales team as the electric carmaker grapples with a sales freefall, according to people familiar with the matter. Raj Jegannathan, a senior executive with a wide purview including several IT and data functions, recently took over the sales role, said the people familiar with the matter. Some inside Tesla have interpreted this to mean that Jegannathan has assumed the role of Troy Jones, Tesla's top sales executive in North America until he departed earlier this month after 15 years with the company, said the people. Jegannathan, who has recently grown closer to CEO Elon Musk, has no traditional sales experience, according to two people familiar with the matter and his LinkedIn profile. Reuters could not determine if it is an interim role. Demand for Tesla's cars in Europe and North America has dropped sharply. Last quarter, its quarterly sales plunged 13 per cent to the weakest in nearly three years, due to a backlash to Musk's politics, Tesla's aging vehicle lineup and increased competition from rivals offering more affordable alternatives. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones, the latest in a string of high-level departures, managed the fallout as Musk's political affiliation with U.S. President Trump prompted left-leaning consumers to shun Tesla. As Tesla's sales were dropping earlier this year, Jones implored managers to work on selling and pushed back against concerns over political headwinds related to Musk, according to a person who heard the comment. Other key figures who recently left include Musk's confidant Omead Afshar, who was in charge of sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe. Jegannathan's expanded role has been interpreted as taking over Afshar's responsibilities as well, some of the people said. Milan Kovac, the head of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot team, announced he was leaving in June. Other recent departures include top battery executive Vineet Mehta and software chief David Lau. Last year, Tesla faced a wave of high-level departures, including chief battery engineer Drew Baglino and global public policy head Rohan Patel. Jegannathan has spent 13 years at Tesla in technology roles. He joined in 2012 as a senior staff engineer, with responsibilities for internet traffic and cloud security, according to his LinkedIn page. More recently, he has helped develop Tesla's data center effort in Texas, two people familiar with the matter said. His duties have expanded rapidly. Earlier this year, he became a vice president for IT/AI infrastructure, apps and information security, according to his LinkedIn page. In recent months, he has taken over Tesla's vehicle-service operations, according to a person familiar with the matter and Jegannathan's comments on X. Jegannathan was among the Tesla employees seconded to Twitter after Musk's takeover of the company in 2022, according to a person familiar with the matter and a media report.

Trump signs US stablecoin law, pushing crypto industry closer to mainstream adoption
Trump signs US stablecoin law, pushing crypto industry closer to mainstream adoption

CNA

time2 days ago

  • CNA

Trump signs US stablecoin law, pushing crypto industry closer to mainstream adoption

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday (July 18) signed into law the country's first major regulation on stablecoins, marking a milestone for the cryptocurrency sector as it pushes to gain broader legitimacy and adoption. The new law, officially titled the GENIUS Act, establishes federal rules for stablecoins—cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a fixed value, typically pegged to the US dollar. The bill passed the House by a vote of 308 to 122, with support from most Republicans and nearly half of Democrats. 'This signing is a massive validation of your hard work and pioneering spirit,' Trump said during the signing ceremony, which included several crypto executives. Under the law, stablecoins must be fully backed by liquid assets, including US dollars and short-term Treasury bills. Issuers will be required to publicly disclose the composition of their reserves each month. The law is seen as a significant victory for crypto advocates, who have lobbied for a clear regulatory framework for years. The move aims to provide certainty for the sector, encourage innovation and draw in mainstream institutions and users. MARKET IMPACT AND CRITICISM The stablecoin market, currently valued at more than US$260 billion according to CoinGecko, could expand to US$2 trillion by 2028, Standard Chartered estimated earlier this year. Industry players argue the law will increase stablecoins' credibility and facilitate their use by banks, merchants and consumers for instant payments. Some crypto firms, including Circle and Ripple, are already pursuing banking licenses to enable faster, lower-cost settlement and increase trust. However, critics say the legislation falls short on several fronts. Democrats and consumer advocates argue it lacks strong anti-money laundering protections and fails to restrict tech giants or foreign entities from issuing their own stablecoins, raising concerns over market concentration and regulatory oversight. The law's passage follows an aggressive lobbying push by the crypto sector, which spent more than US$245 million in the 2024 election cycle backing pro-crypto candidates, including Trump, according to Federal Election Commission data. GROWING DEMAND FOR TREASURY BILLS Supporters of the legislation say it could create new demand for US Treasury bills, as issuers are required to hold large quantities of short-term government debt to back their tokens. JPMorgan analysts wrote in April that stablecoin issuers could become the third-largest buyers of T-bills in the coming years. But some worry the added pressure on the Treasury market could contribute to volatility. US banks are reportedly weighing their entry into crypto through pilot programs and limited trading operations, according to a Reuters report in May. TRUMP'S PERSONAL TIES TO CRYPTO Trump has increasingly aligned himself with the digital asset industry. In March, he signed an executive order establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve. Earlier this year, he launched a meme coin called $TRUMP and holds a partial stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm. These ventures have drawn scrutiny from Democrats, who raised conflict-of-interest concerns as the legislation progressed. At one point, their opposition threatened to derail the bill. The White House has denied any ethical violations, saying Trump's financial holdings are in a trust managed by his children. During his presidential campaign, Trump told a crypto conference he intended to make the US 'the crypto capital of the planet.' With the signing of the stablecoin law, the industry is one step closer to that vision.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store