Banking giant Standard Chartered’s venture capital arm, SC Ventures, is planning to establish a new $250 million fund aimed at investing in cryptocurrencies within the financial services sector. According to Bloomberg, this fund is set to be launched in 2026 with support from investors in the Middle East.
The Ambitious $250 Million Fund Plan
Gautam Jain, a partner at SC Ventures, announced at the Money 20/20 event held in Saudi Arabia, that the fund aims to make global investments. Jain also revealed that the venture capital unit is working on a separate $100 million fund focused on Africa. Additionally, SC Ventures is considering setting up its first venture debt fund, though it’s not confirmed whether these funds will focus on cryptocurrencies.
The preparation of the fund with backing from Middle Eastern investors is noteworthy. In recent years, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have accelerated regulations in the crypto and blockchain sectors through the establishment of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and fintech sandbox applications in Dubai. Consequently, the region is becoming a significant hub for international funds.
Cryptocurrency Investment Trends in Banking
Standard Chartered’s initiative is among the growing number of cryptocurrency investments within the global banking sector. JPMorgan recently unveiled its Kinexys platform, while Goldman Sachs, in collaboration with BNY Mellon, launched a tokenized money market fund. These developments highlight major financial institutions’ increasing interest in crypto-based products and services.
Tokenization practices within the corporate finance system are also becoming more widespread. The process not only facilitates investors’ access to cryptocurrencies but also helps bridge traditional finance and cryptocurrencies. The fund prepared by Standard Chartered through SC Ventures stands as a prominent example of this trend.
