In a significant advancement for institutional cryptocurrency trading, OKX has partnered with Komainu to enable secure, round-the-clock trading of segregated assets under custody. This collaboration marks a pivotal development in how financial institutions manage risk, maintain compliance, and access high-performance crypto markets without compromising asset security.
Through integration with Komainu Connect, OKX now allows institutional clients to trade directly from assets held in regulated, third-party custody—eliminating the need to transfer collateral to exchanges or counterparties. This innovation dramatically reduces counterparty risk while preserving immediate market access, a critical balance for large-scale investors navigating volatile digital asset markets.
Enhancing Trust Through Segregated Custody and Real-Time Trading
Digital asset institutions have long faced a trade-off: either keep funds secure in cold storage and miss time-sensitive opportunities, or move assets onto exchanges—increasing exposure to operational and security risks. The new partnership between OKX and Komainu dismantles this dilemma.
By leveraging Komainu’s off-exchange settlement and tripartite mirroring infrastructure, institutional traders can now execute trades on OKX’s advanced portfolio margin account mode while their underlying assets remain safely segregated under Komainu’s regulated custody. This means institutions gain real-time market participation without sacrificing control or compliance.
👉 Discover how secure custody integration enables frictionless institutional trading.
This model is especially valuable for asset managers, hedge funds, and corporate treasuries that must adhere to strict internal controls and regulatory requirements. With Komainu acting as an independent custodian, clients benefit from enhanced auditability, transparent asset tracking, and reduced exposure to exchange insolvency risks.
Komainu Connect: A New Standard in Collateral Management
Launched in April 2023, Komainu Connect is rapidly emerging as a leading institutional-grade collateral management platform. It allows digital assets to stay in secure custody during trading operations, removing the traditional necessity of depositing collateral with counterparties.
This solution introduces a "mirroring" mechanism where trade instructions are executed on the exchange (OKX), while corresponding assets remain protected off-exchange. The system ensures synchronization between trading positions and custodial holdings through automated reconciliation and real-time data feeds.
For institutions, this means:
- Reduced counterparty risk: No need to transfer assets to trading venues.
- Continuous security: Assets remain in regulated, insured custody at all times.
- Operational efficiency: Automated workflows minimize manual intervention and settlement delays.
- Regulatory alignment: Supports compliance with global standards including AML/KYC, MiCA, and FATF guidelines.
Sebastian Widmann, Head of Strategy at Komainu, emphasized the platform’s growing adoption:
“Komainu Connect is rapidly emerging as the leading collateral management solution. Partnering with one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges is a testament to the infrastructure and expertise committed to this service—and our focus remains on seamless execution for all parties.”
Why Institutional Investors Are Choosing OKX
As the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange globally by trading volume, OKX offers deep liquidity, sophisticated trading tools, and robust API support—making it a preferred destination for professional traders and institutions alike.
The integration with Komainu further strengthens OKX’s value proposition by addressing two core institutional concerns: security and flexibility. Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership:
“Institutions need the peace of mind that comes with knowing their assets are being kept safe with a leading custodian, while retaining their ability to capitalize when investment opportunities arise. That is why we are delighted to partner with Komainu to allow investors a way to keep their assets secure while not compromising on returns.”
This collaboration aligns with OKX’s broader mission to bridge traditional finance (TradFi) with Web3 innovation by offering compliant, scalable, and secure infrastructure tailored for enterprise-grade users.
👉 See how top-tier custody solutions empower institutional market participation.
A Milestone in Secure Digital Asset Infrastructure
Nicolas Bertrand, CEO at Komainu, described the partnership as a milestone:
“This strategic partnership marks a milestone in our mission to provide secure and compliant digital asset custody solutions. OKX's reputation as a leading cryptocurrency exchange, combined with our expertise in institutional-grade custody services, is paving the way for a new era of trust and innovation in the industry.”
Established in 2018 and launching its custody services in June 2020, Komainu has built a strong track record serving exchanges, financial institutions, asset managers, corporations, and even government agencies. Its regulatory licensing in jurisdictions like Japan and Jersey underscores its commitment to compliance and operational integrity.
With this integration, OKX becomes one of the first major exchanges to offer direct connectivity to a regulated tripartite custody solution—setting a new benchmark for institutional crypto trading.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Komainu Connect?
A: Komainu Connect is a collateral management platform that enables institutions to trade digital assets without transferring them from secure, regulated custody. It reduces counterparty risk by keeping assets under independent control during trading activities.
Q: How does segregated custody work with OKX trading?
A: Through tripartite mirroring, clients’ assets remain under Komainu’s custody while trade orders are executed on OKX. The system synchronizes positions in real time, allowing instant market access without moving funds.
Q: Who benefits most from this partnership?
A: Institutional investors such as hedge funds, asset managers, family offices, and corporate treasuries that require both high security and active trading capabilities will benefit most.
Q: Is this solution available globally?
A: Yes, subject to local regulations. Komainu operates under regulated frameworks in multiple jurisdictions, enabling broad international access for compliant institutions.
Q: Does this affect trading speed or execution quality?
A: No. The integration is designed for seamless performance, maintaining OKX’s low-latency execution and deep order book liquidity without degradation due to custody separation.
Q: Are client assets insured while under Komainu custody?
A: Yes. Komainu provides comprehensive insurance coverage for digital assets held in custody, adding an additional layer of protection beyond technical safeguards.
Advancing the Future of Institutional Crypto Trading
The OKX-Komainu partnership exemplifies the maturation of the digital asset ecosystem. As institutions demand more sophisticated, secure, and compliant infrastructure, collaborations like this set the standard for what’s possible in enterprise-grade crypto trading.
By combining OKX’s market-leading exchange capabilities with Komainu’s regulated custody framework, this integration delivers a powerful solution that balances security, accessibility, and trust—three pillars essential for widespread institutional adoption.
👉 Learn how next-generation custody models are transforming institutional crypto strategies.
As the industry evolves toward greater transparency and regulatory clarity, such innovations will play a crucial role in bridging traditional finance with the opportunities of Web3. For institutions seeking secure yet dynamic exposure to digital assets, the future is already here.
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