In the rapidly evolving world of digital assets, institutional investors are demanding more secure, efficient, and compliant ways to manage their crypto holdings. In response, OKX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and on-chain technology provider, has deepened its strategic collaboration with Komainu, a regulated digital asset custodian built specifically for institutional clients. Together, they are redefining off-exchange custody by offering a next-generation solution that enhances security, scalability, and capital efficiency.
This upgraded partnership delivers a seamless, 24/7 trading experience while ensuring assets remain under regulated, segregated custody—addressing one of the most pressing concerns in institutional crypto adoption: counterparty risk.
A Secure Foundation: The Evolution of Off-Exchange Custody
Since June 2023, OKX has been integrated with Komainu Connect, Komainu’s institutional-grade collateral management platform. This integration enables institutional clients to trade assets on the OKX platform while those assets remain securely held in third-party custody with Komainu—a model that separates trading activity from asset ownership.
This separation is critical. By keeping assets off the exchange yet still usable as collateral, clients reduce exposure to exchange-related risks without sacrificing trading flexibility. The result is a best-of-both-worlds scenario: high-performance trading infrastructure paired with enterprise-level security.
👉 Discover how secure off-exchange custody can transform institutional crypto strategies.
Key Enhancements to the Institutional Offering
The latest upgrades to the OKX-Komainu solution introduce powerful new features designed to meet the operational demands of sophisticated financial institutions:
1. Support for Spot and Derivatives Trading
Previously limited in scope, the solution now supports both spot transactions and derivatives trading on OKX. This expansion allows institutions to deploy a unified custody strategy across multiple asset classes and trading strategies—maximizing capital utilization without increasing risk.
2. Automated Settlement of P&L
One of the most significant advancements is automated profit-and-loss (P&L) settlement between OKX and the client’s collateral wallet hosted within Komainu. This eliminates manual reconciliation processes, reduces settlement latency, and improves capital efficiency—especially crucial during volatile market conditions.
3. 24/7 Collateral Adjustments
Clients can now adjust their collateral levels in real time via the Komainu portal, at any hour of the day or week. This round-the-clock access ensures traders can respond instantly to market movements, margin calls, or portfolio rebalancing needs—without delays or operational bottlenecks.
4. Comprehensive Transaction History
Transparency is key for compliance and auditing. The enhanced platform provides clients with detailed records of all transactions and settlements, accessible directly through the Komainu interface. This level of traceability strengthens internal controls and simplifies external reporting.
5. Unified View of Custody and Collateral Wallets
For the first time, institutions gain a holistic view of both their primary custody wallets and delegated collateral wallets in a single dashboard. This consolidated visibility streamlines portfolio monitoring and enhances audit readiness—an essential feature for regulated financial entities.
Driving Institutional Adoption Through Innovation
As digital assets gain traction among hedge funds, asset managers, and traditional financial institutions, security and regulatory compliance remain top priorities. The OKX-Komainu solution directly addresses these concerns by combining:
- Regulated custody (via Komainu)
- Deep liquidity and robust trading infrastructure (via OKX)
- Real-time collateral mirroring and intraday settlement
This synergy creates an optimal environment for institutions to scale their crypto operations safely and efficiently.
A notable early adopter is CoinShares, one of Europe’s leading alternative asset managers specializing in digital assets. On November 15, 2023, CoinShares became the first client to leverage this integrated solution, enabling it to conduct 24/7 trading on OKX while maintaining segregated custody with Komainu.
“This partnership exemplifies how innovation and regulation can coexist in the digital asset space,” said a spokesperson familiar with CoinShares’ strategy. “It gives us confidence that our clients’ assets are protected without compromising performance.”
👉 See how top-tier institutions are securing their crypto portfolios with advanced custody models.
Executive Insights: Building Trust Through Collaboration
Leaders from both organizations emphasize that this expanded partnership reflects a shared vision: empowering institutions with secure, compliant, and scalable infrastructure.
“Institutional clients require the highest levels of security and efficiency,” said Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX. “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, echoed this sentiment:
“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.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is off-exchange custody?
A: Off-exchange custody refers to storing digital assets with a regulated third-party custodian instead of on the exchange where trading occurs. This reduces counterparty risk while still allowing assets to be used as collateral for trading.
Q: How does automated P&L settlement work?
A: After trades are executed on OKX, profits or losses are automatically calculated and settled between the exchange and the client’s Komainu-held collateral wallet—ensuring accurate, timely updates without manual intervention.
Q: Can clients adjust collateral outside business hours?
A: Yes. The Komainu portal enables 24/7 collateral adjustments, giving institutions full control over their margin positions at any time.
Q: Is this solution available globally?
A: While subject to local regulations, the solution is designed for global institutional clients operating in compliant jurisdictions.
Q: Which types of institutions benefit most from this service?
A: Hedge funds, asset managers, family offices, and fintech firms seeking secure, scalable access to crypto markets benefit significantly from this integrated custody-trading model.
Q: Are client assets insured?
A: Yes—Komainu provides comprehensive insurance coverage for assets under custody, adding an additional layer of protection beyond technical safeguards.
👉 Explore cutting-edge custody solutions that align security with high-performance trading.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Institutional Crypto Infrastructure
The enhanced collaboration between OKX and Komainu marks a pivotal step forward in maturing the digital asset ecosystem. By integrating regulated custody with real-time trading capabilities, they are setting a new standard for institutional-grade services in crypto.
As more traditional financial players enter the space, solutions like this will become increasingly vital—not just for security, but for trust, scalability, and long-term sustainability.
With features like automated settlement, 24/7 collateral management, and unified reporting dashboards, the OKX-Komainu partnership is not only meeting current market demands but also shaping the future of secure digital finance.
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