The tripartite agreement ensures Forteus can trade 24/7 on OKX’s platform while maintaining segregated custody of its digital assets with Komainu.
The leading global cryptocurrency exchange OKX has entered into a strategic partnership with Forteus, a digital asset management firm, and Komainu, a regulated custody service provider. This collaboration aims to enhance institutional trading and secure the custody of digital assets.
According to a press release dated November 27, the partnership allows Forteus to trade 24/7 on OKX’s platform while ensuring its digital assets remain securely held in segregated custody with Komainu.
A New Era of Institutional Trading
Through this tripartite arrangement, Komainu will provide qualified custody and cold storage services for Forteus’s assets. The Nomura-backed company is renowned for delivering verifiable custody solutions to corporate investors engaged in crypto trading.
In October, Komainu announced plans to acquire Propine, a licensed custodian firm in Singapore, to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The acquisition aims to leverage Propine’s regulatory licenses to enter new markets across Asia.
However, this latest partnership with OKX takes a distinct direction. The agreement merges Komainu’s secure custody services with OKX’s cutting-edge trading infrastructure, offering off-exchange settlement through mirrored balances. This arrangement grants Forteus access to OKX’s extensive liquidity network, including the Liquid Marketplace for spot OTC, futures spreads, and options, without requiring constant asset transfers between custody and trading platforms.
Mitigating Risks and Expanding Opportunities
The partnership also incorporates robust legal frameworks designed to enhance transparency and instill confidence among institutional investors.
Key features of the agreement include optimized capital use through real-time collateral mirroring and intraday settlements. These advancements will improve liquidity and trading efficiency for institutional clients.
Forteus President Nicolas Vanhoutteghem said the agreement is focused on addressing institutional concerns.
“This tripartite model provides our clients with secure asset custody through a regulated provider while delivering 24/7 market access. It’s a critical step in mitigating counterparty risk for investors aiming to tap into crypto’s alpha opportunities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the partnership aligns with OKX’s broader strategy to expand its institutional services. In June 2023, OKX teamed up with Komainu Connect, a collateral management platform enabling 24/7 trading of segregated assets.
Additionally, OKX recently partnered with Standard Chartered to deliver institutional-grade custody solutions. Announced in October, the agreement named Standard Chartered as OKX’s official institutional banking partner to facilitate the integration of digital assets into traditional finance.
The collaboration with the bank has increased OKX’s comprehensive suite of institutional services, which includes advanced trading tools, robust risk management systems, and secure custody options.
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