The world of institutional cryptocurrency trading is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the growing demand for enhanced security, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. In a landmark move, OKX, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume, has partnered with Komainu, a regulated digital asset custody provider, to enable secure, round-the-clock trading of segregated assets under custody.
This collaboration integrates OKX into Komainu Connect — a cutting-edge collateral management platform launched in April 2023. The integration allows institutional clients to trade on OKX while keeping their assets securely held in third-party custody through Komainu, significantly reducing counterparty risk and enhancing trust in digital asset markets.
Strengthening Institutional Confidence Through Secure Custody
Institutional investors have long faced a critical trade-off: accessing high-performance trading platforms often meant transferring custody of their assets — exposing them to platform-specific risks. With the rise of regulated custody solutions like Komainu, this dilemma is being resolved.
Komainu Connect eliminates the need for institutions to deposit collateral directly with trading counterparties. Instead, assets remain safely segregated under Komainu’s custody, while trading activity occurs seamlessly on the OKX platform via an off-exchange settlement and tripartite mirroring mechanism.
This architecture ensures that ownership and control of assets are never compromised, even during active trading. It's a game-changer for hedge funds, asset managers, financial institutions, and corporate treasuries looking to participate in crypto markets without sacrificing security or compliance.
A Strategic Alliance Built on Trust and Innovation
The partnership reflects a shared vision between OKX and Komainu to build robust infrastructure that meets the rigorous demands of institutional finance.
Nicolas Bertrand, CEO at Komainu, emphasized the significance of the collaboration:
“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.”
Seamless integration with major trading venues is central to Komainu Connect’s value proposition. By enabling direct connectivity with OKX — known for its deep liquidity and advanced trading tools — Komainu reinforces its position as a leading collateral management solution.
Sebastian Widmann, Head of Strategy at Komainu, added:
“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.”
Empowering Institutions with Flexibility and Security
For institutional traders, timing is everything. Market opportunities often arise outside traditional business hours, requiring 24/7 access to liquid markets. At the same time, asset protection remains non-negotiable.
Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX, highlighted how this partnership addresses both needs:
“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.”
Through this integration, OKX offers institutions access to its market-leading portfolio margin account mode — a sophisticated risk management system that optimizes capital efficiency by calculating margin requirements across an entire portfolio rather than per position.
Combined with Komainu’s secure custody framework, this creates a powerful environment where capital efficiency and asset protection coexist.
👉 See how leading institutions are optimizing returns without sacrificing security.
The Evolution of Digital Asset Custody
Established in 2018, Komainu was created specifically to meet the complex needs of institutional investors navigating the digital asset landscape. As a regulated custodian, it provides end-to-end solutions for storing, managing, and securing digital assets in compliance with financial regulations.
Since its official launch in June 2020, Komainu has built a strong client base including exchanges, banks, asset managers, corporations, and even government agencies. Its adoption by such high-trust entities underscores the reliability and regulatory rigor embedded in its operations.
The development of Komainu Connect further extends this capability by bridging custody with real-time trading functionality — a crucial evolution in making crypto markets more accessible and trustworthy for mainstream finance.
Core Keywords
- Institutional crypto trading
- Digital asset custody
- Secure cryptocurrency exchange
- Portfolio margin trading
- 24/7 crypto markets
- Counterparty risk reduction
- Regulated crypto custody
- Tripartite asset mirroring
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Komainu Connect?
A: Komainu Connect is a collateral management platform that allows institutional clients to trade digital assets without transferring custody of their assets. Assets remain securely held with Komainu while trades are executed on connected exchanges like OKX.
Q: How does segregated custody improve security?
A: Segregated custody ensures that each client’s assets are isolated from others and never co-mingled. This reduces exposure to systemic risks and protects against insolvency or misuse by third parties.
Q: Can institutions access OKX’s advanced trading features through this integration?
A: Yes. Institutions using Komainu custody can fully access OKX’s portfolio margin account mode and other premium trading tools, combining high performance with enhanced security.
Q: Is this service available globally?
A: While subject to local regulations, Komainu serves clients across multiple jurisdictions including Europe, Asia, and North America. The partnership supports compliant access for qualified institutional investors worldwide.
Q: What types of institutions typically use this kind of service?
A: Hedge funds, family offices, asset managers, fintech firms, corporate treasuries, and regulated financial institutions seeking secure exposure to digital assets.
Q: How does off-exchange settlement work in this model?
A: Trade instructions are sent from OKX to Komainu Connect, which validates and settles transactions using assets under custody. This keeps funds off the exchange while enabling real-time trading execution.
👉 Learn more about next-generation trading infrastructure designed for institutional excellence.
The Future of Institutional Crypto Infrastructure
This partnership between OKX and Komainu represents more than just a technical integration — it's a step toward standardizing best practices in institutional crypto trading. By decoupling trading access from asset custody, the industry moves closer to traditional financial market standards where security and operational efficiency go hand in hand.
As digital assets continue gaining traction among mainstream investors, solutions like this will become foundational. The ability to trade 24/7 in liquid markets while maintaining auditable, regulated custody is no longer a luxury — it's an expectation.
With continued innovation in custody technology, risk management frameworks, and exchange connectivity, the path forward for institutional adoption is clearer than ever.