SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s innovation arm, confirmed it will raise $250 million for a digital asset fund in 2026 with support from Middle Eastern investors. Operating partner Gautam Jain disclosed the plan at Money 20/20 in Riyadh, noting the fund will target blockchain, tokenization, and regulated digital asset opportunities. The unit is also launching a $100 million Africa-focused fund and exploring its first venture debt initiative. SC Ventures opened operations in Saudi Arabia in January 2025 and aims to establish a domestic Saudi fund by 2026. The announcement follows Standard Chartered’s recent advances, including launching regulated spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading in the UK, tokenization efforts via its Libeara platform, a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin partnership, and securing crypto custody licenses in Luxembourg and Dubai.