Zodia Markets Secures $18.25M Series A to Expand Global Stablecoin Operations

Zodia Markets, the crypto trading platform majority-owned by Standard Chartered, has raised $18.25 million in a Series A funding round led by Pharsalus Capital with participation from Circle Ventures, Tokenbay Capital, XVC Tech, and others to accelerate its global expansion and strengthen its stablecoin infrastructure. The firm aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance by offering institutional clients real-time stablecoin settlements across borders, enhancing cross-border payment solutions, and expanding its non-custodial trading platform that allows users to retain control of their assets. This funding round marks a strategic shift as Standard Chartered reduces its stake from 84% to 60%, signaling increased operational independence for Zodia while maintaining majority control. CEO Usman Ahmad highlighted the goal of eliminating delays caused by banking hours and manual processes, emphasizing secure and scalable infrastructure to support institutional crypto adoption. Zodia’s focus on stablecoins like USDC addresses the need for stable, low-volatility digital assets, which are increasingly critical for global digital asset adoption and regulatory compliance. The investment reflects growing institutional confidence in stablecoins as essential tools for liquidity, volatility mitigation, and financial inclusion in emerging markets.