Standard Chartered's SC Ventures Powers Up European Crypto-Asset Platform One Trading with Major Investment

SC Ventures Invests in One Trading, Boosting Europe's Crypto Market

SC Ventures, the innovation and fintech investment arm of Standard Chartered, has announced a strategic investment in One Trading, a prominent European crypto-asset exchange.

This investment round also saw participation from existing investor MiddleGame Ventures, which increased its stake, along with Valar and SpeedInvest.

The details of the investment terms remain undisclosed.

Joshua Barraclough, Founder and CEO of One Trading, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating,

“As a major, multinational bank with a commitment to innovation, SC Ventures is dedicated to driving digital assets market infrastructure. We welcome them as an investor in the company and believe they can add a lot of value to One Trading and our clients.”

One Trading's Groundbreaking Milestone in the EU

The influx of capital will enable One Trading to launch the first crypto perpetual futures in the European Union (EU) as a MiFID II trading venue.

MiFID II, introduced in 2018, aims to enhance transparency and bolster investor protections across European financial markets.

In July 2024, One Trading achieved a significant regulatory milestone with the Dutch financial market regulator granting it an Organised Trading Facility (OTF) License.

This licence not only establishes One Trading as a MiFID II trading venue but also makes it the only crypto perpetual futures trading venue in the EU and the first cash-settled perpetuals platform in Europe, including the UK.

Pioneering Regulation for Retail Clients

With this OTF licence, One Trading becomes the first regulated derivatives exchange in Europe accessible to retail clients.

This achievement marks a pivotal moment in One Trading's journey with the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) to revolutionise derivatives trading and bring crypto futures onshore in the EU.

Alex Manson, CEO of SC Ventures, commented on the development,

“Financial innovation should not come at the cost of consumer protection, that’s why we are glad to see One Trading receiving the OTF License. We congratulate the team on becoming the first MiFID II trading venue for crypto perpetual futures in the EU. We look forward to One Trading providing much needed infrastructure to all participants in the EU and further afield.”

Strategic Partnerships Amplify One Trading’s Vision

The investment round highlights the confidence that major players have in One Trading’s potential.

Pascal Bouvier, Managing Partner at MiddleGame Ventures, shared his excitement, stating,

“We saw the potential for One Trading early in its journey and we are delighted to be participating with SC Ventures and others in this investment. We are happy to support One Trading to become the undisputed leading onshore, licensed and institutional trading venue the digital assets market has been clamouring for.”

This funding injection follows closely on the heels of the Dutch regulator's grant of the OTF License, which positions One Trading at the forefront of regulated crypto derivatives trading in Europe.

Standard Chartered has also been active in the crypto sector, recently launching a digital asset custody service in the UAE, further solidifying its commitment to the evolving digital assets market.