OKX Partners Forteus, Komainu to Enhance Institutional Crypto Trading, Custody

OKX has partnered with Forteus and Komainu to strengthen its institutional crypto trading and custody offerings.

Through the partnership, Komainu, a regulated digital asset custody provider, will ensure assets are securely held in segregated custody while diversified digital asset management firm, Forteus, will conduct 24/7 trading on the OKX platform.

Additionally, Komainu will deliver qualified custody services and cold storage for Forteus’ assets. Off-exchange settlement and mirrored balances, which are crucial for institutional traders requiring uninterrupted access to OKX’s trading capabilities including, will be offered through the partnership.

By combining secure custody with real-time access to trading solutions, the deal addresses critical challenges in institutional cryptocurrency trading.

The collaboration further optimizes capital usage by enabling real-time collateral management, reducing inefficiencies common in institutional trading setups.

OKX and Komainu previously joined forces in June 2023 when the exchange joined Komainu's collateral management platform, Komainu Connect. The platform allows institutional clients to securely trade segregated assets held in custody, eliminating counterparty risk associated with traditional collateral storage methods.

OKX Global chief commercial officer Lennix Lai said the collaboration exemplifies OKX's "commitment to solving the key challenges faced by institutional traders."

"By integrating secure, regulated custody with advanced trading capabilities and deep liquidity, we address issues like counterparty risk and asset mobility," he explained.

"This partnership ensures that institutions can engage confidently and efficiently in the crypto markets, knowing their assets are safe with a leading custodian. We are delighted to partner with Komainu to provide asset security without compromising returns."

OKX's Singapore entity, OKX SG, received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in September. The license allows the exchange to offer digital payment token and cross-border money transfer services, including spot crypto trading for Singaporean investors.

Additionally, the exchange appointed former MAS official, Gracie Lin, as the CEO for its Singapore arm. Before joining OKX in March, Lin served as managing director for strategy and economics at Grab, vice president of sovereign wealth fund GIC, and deputy director as head of money markets at MAS.