In a significant move to strengthen institutional-grade digital asset security and trading efficiency, OKX and Komainu have deepened their strategic collaboration. The expanded partnership introduces an advanced off-exchange custody solution designed specifically for institutional clients, combining robust security with seamless 24/7 trading capabilities on one of the world’s leading crypto platforms.
This enhancement builds on the initial integration launched in June 2023, when OKX joined Komainu Connect — Komainu’s institutional collateral management platform — enabling clients to trade while keeping assets securely held by a regulated third-party custodian. The updated solution now delivers greater functionality, automation, and transparency for firms navigating the evolving digital asset landscape.
Enhanced Features for Institutional Clients
The upgraded offering brings several key improvements that elevate capital efficiency, risk management, and operational control:
- Support for spot and derivatives trading: Institutional clients can now execute both spot and derivatives transactions through OKX while maintaining custody of assets with Komainu.
- Automated settlement of P&L: Profits and losses are automatically settled between OKX and the client’s collateral wallet in Komainu, reducing manual processes and counterparty exposure.
- 24/7 collateral adjustments: Clients can dynamically adjust the amount of collateral delegated to OKX directly from the Komainu portal at any time, ensuring optimal capital allocation.
- Comprehensive transaction history: Full access to settlement records and transaction logs via the Komainu interface enhances audit readiness and compliance oversight.
- Unified custody view: A consolidated dashboard provides real-time visibility into both custody and collateral wallets, streamlining portfolio monitoring and reporting.
These features collectively empower institutions with a secure, efficient, and compliant framework for engaging in continuous crypto trading without compromising asset safety.
Meeting Rising Institutional Demand
As more traditional financial institutions enter the digital asset ecosystem, demand for secure, scalable, and regulated infrastructure has surged. The OKX-Komainu solution directly addresses this need by merging Komainu’s regulated custody services with OKX’s high-performance trading infrastructure, deep liquidity pools, and low-latency execution.
Available around the clock, the solution enables real-time collateral mirroring and intraday settlement — critical advantages for firms managing dynamic market exposures. By allowing assets to remain under segregated custody while still being actively traded, the model significantly reduces counterparty risk, a top concern for institutional investors.
Real-World Application: CoinShares Case Study
One early adopter of this innovative framework is CoinShares, a leading European digital asset investment firm. In November 2023, CoinShares became the first client to leverage the joint OKX-Komainu solution, enabling it to conduct 24/7 trading on OKX while holding assets in secure, segregated custody with Komainu.
This integration exemplifies how forward-thinking institutions are adopting hybrid models that balance security with operational agility — a necessity in today’s fast-moving crypto markets.
Executive Insights
Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX, emphasized the strategic value of the expanded partnership:
"Institutional clients require the highest levels of security and efficiency, and our custody partnerships deliver this for a range of client needs. Our expanded partnership with Komainu combines their regulated custodial services with our robust trading infrastructure and deep liquidity to offer greater scale and support for off-exchange custody clients who execute spot and derivatives transactions on our platform."
Paul Frost-Smith, Co-CEO at Komainu, highlighted the broader industry impact:
"We are excited to expand our reach, offering our enhanced OKX off-exchange solution to more clients. This collaboration is testament to our mission of providing secure and compliant digital asset servicing solutions."
Robert Johnson, also Co-CEO at Komainu, added:
"By leveraging our industry-leading custodial offering and OKX’s robust trading infrastructure, we are building a high-quality network for our clients, to deliver a frictionless, segregated and secure experience."
Why This Partnership Matters
The evolution of crypto markets demands infrastructure that meets institutional standards for governance, risk control, and regulatory compliance. The OKX-Komainu integration sets a new benchmark by offering:
- Regulated custody: Assets are held by Komainu, which operates under multiple jurisdictions including Jersey, Dubai, the UK, and Italy.
- Non-custodial trading access: Clients retain control of their assets while gaining full access to OKX’s trading ecosystem.
- Operational resilience: With 99.99% platform uptime and monthly Proof-of-Reserves audits, OKX reinforces trust and transparency.
👉 See how top institutions are securing their digital assets without sacrificing trading flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is off-exchange custody?
A: Off-exchange custody allows clients to keep their digital assets held by a regulated third-party custodian (like Komainu) while still being able to trade on an exchange (like OKX). This reduces counterparty risk by ensuring assets aren’t held directly on the exchange.
Q: Who benefits from this solution?
A: Institutional investors such as hedge funds, asset managers, family offices, and fintech firms that require secure, compliant, and efficient access to crypto markets.
Q: Is this solution available globally?
A: While the service is designed for international use, availability may vary by region due to local regulations. Not all products are accessible in every jurisdiction.
Q: How does automated P&L settlement work?
A: After trades are executed on OKX, profits or losses are automatically settled into the client’s collateral wallet hosted in Komainu’s custody system, improving capital efficiency and reducing manual reconciliation.
Q: Can clients adjust collateral outside market hours?
A: Yes — one of the key advantages is 24/7 collateral adjustment via the Komainu portal, allowing firms to respond instantly to market movements or margin requirements.
Q: Are stablecoins supported in this custody model?
A: Yes — Komainu supports multi-asset custody, including major stablecoins, which can be used as collateral for trading on OKX.
Core Keywords
- Institutional crypto custody
- Off-exchange trading
- Digital asset security
- Regulated crypto custodian
- Automated settlement
- 24/7 collateral management
- Counterparty risk reduction
- Crypto trading infrastructure
👉 Explore enterprise-grade custody solutions integrated with high-performance trading platforms.
The strengthened alliance between OKX and Komainu reflects a growing trend toward hybrid financial architectures in the digital asset space — where security, compliance, and performance coexist seamlessly. As institutional adoption accelerates, solutions like this will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of responsible crypto finance.