Standard Chartered Becomes the First Global Bank to Offer USDC Minting

Standard Chartered is the first Global Systemically Important Bank to let institutions mint and redeem Circle's USDC stablecoin through a single account, starting in Dubai's DIFC.

Standard Chartered Becomes the First Global Bank to Offer USDC Minting Standard Chartered is the first Global Systemically Important Bank to let institutions mint and redeem Circle's USDC stablecoin through a single account, starting in Dubai's DIFC. Aaron Rafferty July 03, 2026 Key Takeaways: Standard Chartered on July 2 became the first Global Systemically Important Bank licensed to offer institutional clients direct USDC minting and redemption. The service, built with Circle, runs first through the bank's Dubai International Financial Centre operations and removes the need for a direct Circle account. It signals that regulated stablecoin infrastructure is moving inside the world's largest banks rather than around them. Standard Chartered announced on July 2 that institutional clients can now mint and redeem Circle's USDC stablecoin directly through the bank, a capability built with Circle Internet Group. The launch makes Standard Chartered the first Global Systemically Important Bank, the tier of roughly 30 lenders regulators treat as critical to the financial system, to offer that access. The design is a single door. Institutions can reach USDC through one onboarding and service relationship with the bank, without opening a direct account with Circle. Standard Chartered is folding banking, custody, and digital asset services into one offering, built for on-chain settlement, treasury, and liquidity management, with payment uses planned later. It starts in Dubai. The service is first available through the bank's Dubai International Financial Centre operations , which Standard Chartered called the first phase of a broader global stablecoin plan it intends to expand to other markets as regulators allow. Roberto Hoornweg, who runs corporate and in