Standard Chartered has partnered with the UK’s first FCA‑regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives.
The deal will see GFO-X providing institutional clients with custody solutions for digital assets used as collateral.
The initiative is described as a world-first in regulated and centrally cleared digital asset derivatives.
It allows GFO-X’s clients to post cryptocurrencies, tokenised money market funds and other digital assets as collateral in a fully cleared and credit intermediated model.
Standard Chartered will act as the independent, regulated custodian. The service is expected to go live in the second half of 2026.
Margaret Harwood-Jones, global head of financing and securities services at Standard Chartered, said the collaboration shows how trusted institutions can shape secure market structures.
“Our partnership with GFO-X demonstrates how trusted institutions can help shape a secure and scalable market structure,” she said.
She added that combining custody with central clearing and credit intermediation will support responsible long-term growth in the digital asset ecosystem.
GFO-X operates the UK’s first FCA-regulated and centrally cleared digital asset derivatives trading venue.
In September 2025, its Abu Dhabi unit received approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM to operate as a Recognised Investment Exchange and Recognised Clearing House. This approval has since been extended to cover securities and ETFs.
Arnab Sen, chief executive and co-founder of GFO-X, said the partnership would unlock significant demand.
“Allowing institutional clients to post digital assets as collateral will unlock a significant amount of pent-up demand for trading,” he said.
He added using Standard Chartered as custodian enhances risk management and reduces counterparty exposure.
