Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 12, 2026 — 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, the London-headquartered international banking group.

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. Segregated client money accounts keep customer funds separate from a platform's own balances, while correspondent banking arrangements allow transactions to be processed across borders through partner institutions. For a licensed broker-dealer transacting in virtual assets on behalf of clients, these banking functions carry the fiat side of the business — the movement of funds into and out of the platform. For MidChains' clients, the setup is designed to link digital asset services with the banking system that supports their wider activity.

Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan at 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 of 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. The companies framed the arrangement as a practical example of how the UAE's regulated financial ecosystem can link innovation with established banking capabilities to support international business. The announcement did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement or a timeline for when the banking services would go live.

VARA was established in 2022 under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022 as the world's first standalone regulator dedicated to virtual assets and oversees virtual asset service providers operating in the emirate.

About MidChains

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

MidChains is backed by Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi's state-owned investment company, alongside Lunate, MIAX Exchange Group, Brevan Howard, GSR, Emurgo, Dhabi Holdings and Ava Labs. Its services include institutional OTC execution, regulated on/off ramps, and stablecoin-enabled corporate treasury execution and cross-border settlement.

About Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group with a presence in 55 of the world's most dynamic markets. Its stated purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through its unique diversity, and its heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, “Here for good.” Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

This announcement was distributed via Chainwire. Original publication: MidChains and Standard Chartered establish strategic banking partnership.