Standard Chartered’s innovation arm, SC Ventures, is gearing up to launch a new fund focused on digital assets. The group plans to raise $250 million for this venture, which is set to begin in 2026. Backing for the fund is expected to come from investors located in the Middle East.
This move marks another significant step for the British bank into the world of digital finance. SC Ventures, first created in 2018, invests in technology startups and new projects. Gautam Jain, an operating member, shared these plans at the Money 20/20 event in Riyadh, according to a Bloomberg report this Monday. The fund will concentrate on global investments.
Beyond this digital asset fund, SC Ventures also has other plans. It aims to create a $100 million fund for investments across Africa. The unit is also looking into launching its very first venture debt fund. It was not clear if these additional funds would specifically target cryptocurrencies or broader financial technology.
SC Ventures has made a stronger push into the Middle East this year, starting operations in Saudi Arabia. Jain noted this expansion is part of a wider strategy. This includes building a dedicated team for the United Kingdom. It also involves setting up a national fund in 2026 to make smaller investments in companies and develop new businesses.
Saudi Arabia is a key player in venture capital fundraising in the Middle East, especially for financial technology, known as fintech. Data from the Magnitt platform, also reported by Bloomberg, shows this trend. In the first half of 2025, local fintech startups in the region pulled in $274 million. This surge was due to a rise in investment deals. A pre-IPO funding round for Tabby, a “buy now, pay later” company, greatly helped reach that sum. Investors in the Middle East are most interested in payment solutions, lending, and insurance. Government support has fueled this regional activity in recent years.
Standard Chartered’s Growing Crypto Presence
This new fund highlights Standard Chartered’s deepening involvement in the cryptocurrency space. The London-based bank has been expanding its efforts in digital assets. This comes as more large institutions and everyday people show interest.
Just last July, the bank started offering a trading service for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). This service is available to its institutional clients, meaning other large financial companies.
Standard Chartered also owns stakes in two digital asset firms: Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets. These companies offer a range of services, from holding cryptocurrencies safely to trading them directly outside of public exchanges. In 2023, the bank launched its own Blockchain unit called Libeara. This unit helps institutions turn real-world assets into digital tokens.
The bank’s analysts are well-known among crypto enthusiasts for their bold price forecasts. A few weeks ago, Geoffrey Kendrick, who heads digital asset research at Standard Chartered, updated his prediction for Ethereum. He now sees it climbing to $7,500 by the end of the year. He even suggests it could reach $25,000 in 2028. Kendrick has also said that Bitcoin might surpass $200,000 before 2026. This outlook matches similar views from analysts at Bitwise and Bernstein.