While debates within the circle continue over whether cryptocurrencies are a hot trend or a bubble, Standard Chartered Bank, which manages assets worth between 3.67 trillion and 4 trillion USD, suddenly made a statement — they have decided to enter the market by launching prime brokerage services for Bitcoin and digital assets. The news broke on January 12 and immediately sparked discussions.

What is prime brokerage service? Simply put, it’s acting as a caretaker for large institutions — covering asset custody, trade clearing, financing, and risk management, all in one package. This approach has long been mature in traditional finance, but in the crypto space, it’s still rare for mainstream banks to get involved. Standard Chartered’s move is essentially an official announcement: traditional financial institutions are no longer just watching; they are truly starting to lay out their strategies.

Interestingly, the timing is quite strategic — currently, Bitcoin ETFs saw outflows of $681 million in the first week, with prices oscillating between $90,000 and $92,000, and market sentiment somewhat subdued. Yet, Standard Chartered chose this moment to speak out, demonstrating the long-term vision of major institutions. They are not retail investors chasing quick gains, but preparing for an imminent institutional-level market surge.

Looking at Ethereum data, recent flows are quite telling. On January 10, 10,770 ETH flowed into exchanges, and by January 11, this number surged to 31,889 ETH. Exchange reserves increased from 16.58 million ETH to 16.588 million ETH, with a total value of about $51.1 billion. This large and continuous inflow likely indicates institutions preparing for the launch of Standard Chartered’s prime brokerage services. After all, such services primarily cater to big players.

From a technical perspective, Ethereum’s RSI on January 12 stands at 50.31, indicating a neutral to slightly bullish stance. The MACD shows a hint of optimism, with the price steady at $3,082, comfortably within the Bollinger Bands middle range ($2,842 to $3,272). This stable yet dynamic trend is exactly what large institutional players prefer for building positions — low volatility and manageable risk.