SC Ventures Plans $250 Million Digital Asset Fund Backed by Middle Eastern Investors

Highlights:

• SC Ventures is planning to launch a $250 million digital asset fund with backing from Middle Eastern investors.
• The venture arm also plans a $100 million Africa-focused fund and will explore its first venture debt initiative.
• Standard Chartered has expanded its digital asset efforts with tokenization and partnerships with global exchanges.

Standard Chartered’s innovation arm, SC Ventures, confirmed plans to launch a $250 million digital asset fund. The project will allocate resources in blockchain, tokenization, and financial services around the globe. Gautam Jain, SC Ventures partner, announced it at the Money 20/20 conference in Saudi Arabia. He stressed that the fund will target opportunities that can empower digital infrastructure in markets.

ICYMI: 📢

SC VENTURES, THE VENTURE CAPITAL ARM OF STANDARD CHARTERED, IS REPORTEDLY PLANNING TO LAUNCH A $250 MILLION FUND DEDICATED TO DIGITAL ASSET INVESTMENTS. pic.twitter.com/VdZqB7qWBR

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The project will launch in 2026 and will enjoy the support of the Middle Eastern investors. SC Ventures anticipates that the new fund will establish a growth basis in tokenized markets. The firm also sees rising demand for decentralized finance applications within financial institutions. The fund represents one of the largest commitments by a bank’s venture arm toward digital assets.

SC Ventures Plans $250 Million Fund with Global Reach

Besides the digital asset fund, SC Ventures has two more investment projects. The first is a $100 million fund specific to Africa, which will be targeting fintech opportunities on the continent. The second is a potential venture debt fund, which remains under consideration. Jain stated that these vehicles may serve different markets but will complement the broader strategy.

SC Ventures continues to expand its presence in the Middle East. In 2025, the firm opened operations in Saudi Arabia as part of its regional growth plan. The company also announced plans to create a domestic fund in the kingdom by 2026. These steps show a consistent effort to connect with local ecosystems while building on global opportunities.

Since 2018, SC Ventures has invested in fintech startups and supported new ventures across multiple sectors. It has been instrumental in integrating new technologies with banking infrastructure. The new funds reinforce this mission by injecting additional capital and widening geographic reach.

Institutional Adoption Signals Broader Digital Asset Growth

Standard Chartered has made several moves in the digital asset space. Earlier this year, the bank introduced deliverable spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading through its U.K. branch. It also developed tokenization services under Libeara, its blockchain platform. Furthermore, it partnered with OKX to expand collateral solutions using tokenized money market funds and cryptocurrencies. Other global banks have taken similar steps. JPMorgan introduced its blockchain settlement system, Kinexys. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs, with BNY Mellon, introduced a tokenized money market fund.

The Middle East remains a blockchain adoption center. Dubai established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, and Saudi Arabia is developing a sandbox to test blockchain projects. These policies promote investment and draw the interest of international organizations. The activities of SC Ventures are in line with this trend as they tap into regional support and create local entities.

Fintech analysts believe that the industry will grow to $1.5 trillion by 2030. Part of this growth will be driven by tokenization and decentralized finance. Standard Chartered, via SC Ventures, is positioning itself to seize opportunities as institutions broaden digital finance strategies.

#Global fintech investment hit US$ 95.6 billion, with projections estimating a US$ 1.5 trillion industry by 2030. #India’s fintech sector alone is expected to grow from US$ 689 billion in 2023 to US$ 2.1 trillion by 2030: Debajyoti Chakravarty https://t.co/FW9Pno94xo

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