MidChains and Standard Chartered establish strategic banking partnership

12 November 2026 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

MidChains FZE, a digital asset platform licensed by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to provide broker-dealer services to retail, institutional and qualified investors, today announced a strategic banking partnership with Standard Chartered.

Under the partnership, Standard Chartered will support MidChains with a range of banking services, including fiat settlement capabilities, segregated client money accounts, and correspondent banking. These services will power MidChains’ day-to-day operations and enable efficient settlement.

Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE,Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered, said: “The UAE has established itself as one of the world’s leading regulatory environments for digital assets and a global centre for financial activity. That creates a strong setting for regulated digital asset firms and established financial institutions to work together. Our partnership with MidChains puts that opportunity into practice, with Standard Chartered providing the banking services that support its institutional activity, including fiat settlement, segregated client money accounts and correspondent banking.”

Basil Al Askari, Chief Executive Officer, MidChains, added: “Institutional capital moves continuously between traditional and digital markets, and the infrastructure supporting that activity must keep pace. For institutional investors, digital asset services need to connect with the banking system that supports their wider activity. Our partnership with Standard Chartered brings that connection to MidChains’ institutional services, supporting clients as capital moves between traditional and digital markets.”

By bringing a VARA-licensed digital asset platform together with an established international bank, the partnership connects institutional digital asset activity with the banking infrastructure behind fiat settlement. It is a practical example of how the UAE’s regulated financial ecosystem can link innovation with established banking capabilities to support international business.

About MidChains

MidChains is a VARA-licensed regulated digital asset infrastructure provider headquartered in the UAE, serving institutional and corporate clients globally. Operating as a regulated entity since 2019,MidChains holds a VARA Broker-Dealer licence for retail, institutional and qualified investors.

MidChains is backed by Mubadala Investment Company,Lunate, MIAX Exchange Group, Brevan Howard, GSR, Emurgo, Dhabi Holdings and AvaLabs. Services include institutional OTC execution, regulated on/off ramps, and stablecoin-enabled corporate treasury execution and cross-border settlement.

For more information, visit www.midchains.com. Follow MidChains on X and LinkedIn.

About Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 55 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

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