Standard Chartered’s venture division is set to introduce a $250 million cryptocurrency investment fund in 2026, indicating a rising institutional interest in digital assets.
SC Ventures of Standard Chartered plans to gather the funds to launch an investment initiative targeting digital assets within the financial services industry, as reported by Bloomberg on Monday, citing Gautam Jain, an operating partner.
Scheduled for a 2026 launch, the fund will attract investors from the Middle East, focusing on global investment prospects, Jain informed Bloomberg.
SC Ventures’ initiative comes in tandem with various corporate treasury firms establishing long-term accumulation strategies, raising expectations for greater institutional influx into the crypto market in the coming years.
Cointelegraph reached out to SC Ventures to inquire about the specific cryptocurrencies planned for the fund but did not receive an immediate reply.
Related: Mantle 2.0 to accelerate DeFi-CeFi convergence: Delphi Digital
SC Ventures to launch $100 million Africa investment fund
In addition to the $250 million digital asset fund, SV Ventures is also working on a $100 million fund dedicated to African investments, and is considering its inaugural venture debt fund, according to Jain.
Details on whether these funds will include or concentrate on cryptocurrencies and fintech were not disclosed.
This information follows Standard Chartered’s concerns regarding the declining market net asset value (mNAV) of digital asset treasury (DAT) firms, which gauges the ratio of a firm’s enterprise value against its cryptocurrency assets.
Standard Chartered indicated that many prominent treasury firms have recently fallen below the crucial one mNAV threshold, suggesting increased difficulty for companies in issuing new shares and amassing cryptocurrencies, as noted by Cointelegraph on Monday.
“The recent downturn in DAT mNAVs will likely promote differentiation and market consolidation,” stated Standard Chartered. “Differentiation will benefit the most capable, cost-effective funders and those leveraging staking yield,” suggesting a positive outlook for established firms like Strategy and Bitmine, which can still raise funds via low-cost debt issuance.
Related: SEC chair promises notice before enforcement for crypto businesses: FT
The $250 million fund is a recent indicator of increasing corporate enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin (BTC).
On Monday, Nasdaq-listed Helius Medical Technologies announced a $500 million corporate treasury reserve, with the Solana (SOL) token as its primary reserve asset.
The company committed to “significantly scale” its Solana holdings within the next 12 to 24 months, reflecting a trend of more institutional capital directed towards altcoins.
Magazine: Bitcoin is ‘funny internet money’ during a crisis: Tezos co-founder
