Standard Chartered’s venture division is gearing up to introduce a $250 million cryptocurrency investment fund in 2026, indicating a rising institutional interest in digital assets.
SC Ventures, part of Standard Chartered, aims to raise funds for the investment vehicle centered on digital assets within the financial services sector, as reported by Bloomberg on Monday, referencing operating partner Gautam Jain.
Scheduled for a 2026 launch, this fund will have backing from Middle Eastern investors, targeting global investment opportunities, Jain informed Bloomberg.
The initiative by SC Ventures comes in response to a trend of corporate treasury firms adopting long-term accumulation strategies, raising expectations for increased institutional investment in the crypto market in the coming years.
Cointelegraph sought insights from SC Ventures regarding the specific cryptocurrencies to be included in the fund but did not receive a prompt reply.
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SC Ventures to introduce $100 million investment fund for Africa
In addition to the $250 million digital asset fund, SC Ventures is also planning a $100 million fund aimed at African investments and is considering its inaugural venture debt fund, according to Jain.
He did not indicate whether those funds would focus on cryptocurrencies or financial technology.
This announcement follows Standard Chartered’s concerns regarding the decreasing market net asset value (mNAV) of digital asset treasury (DAT) firms, assessing the ratio of a company’s enterprise value to its cryptocurrency assets.
The bank expressed worries that many prominent treasury firms have recently dipped below the crucial one mNAV threshold, suggesting that raising new capital and accumulating cryptocurrencies is becoming increasingly difficult, Cointelegraph reported on Monday.
“The recent decline in DAT mNAVs will likely prompt differentiation and consolidation in the market,” Standard Chartered noted. “Differentiation will favor the largest and cheapest funders, alongside those capable of providing staking yield,” suggesting a positive outlook for major firms like Strategy and Bitmine, which can still secure funding through low-cost debt issuance.
Related: SEC chair promises notice before enforcement for crypto businesses: FT
The $250 million fund exemplifies the increasing corporate eagerness for cryptocurrencies beyond just Bitcoin (BTC).
On Monday, Helius Medical Technologies, listed on Nasdaq, revealed a $500 million corporate treasury reserve, primarily using the Solana (SOL) token as its reserve asset.
The company committed to “significantly scale” its Solana holdings over the next 12 to 24 months, suggesting a movement of more institutional capital towards altcoins.
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