Standard Chartered and OKX’s collateral mirroring programme marks a significant evolution in institutional crypto trading, providing secure off-exchange asset custody while reinforcing capital efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Institutional investors increasingly seek secure custody solutions for digital assets amid concerns over exchange risks. Standard Chartered, a Globally Systemically Important Bank ( G-SIB ), now offers off-exchange collateral management in partnership with OKX, reducing counterparty risk and bolstering investor confidence.

Margaret Harwood-Jones, global head of financing and securities services at Standard Chartered, emphasized, “We understand the critical importance of robust and secure custody solutions. By leveraging our established custody infrastructure, we are ensuring the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance.”

Dubai’s expanding role in digital asset regulation

The programme operates within the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority ( VARA ) framework, positioning Dubai as a key hub for institutional digital finance. Standard Chartered acts as an independent, regulated custodian within the Dubai International Financial Centre ( DIFC ), ensuring secure storage and oversight under the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Globally, jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Singapore are also advancing regulated crypto infrastructure, reflecting a wider institutional shift toward transparent, compliant digital asset frameworks.

Institutional adoption gains momentum

Hong Fang, president of OKX, highlighted this shift, stating, “as the digital assets ecosystem becomes more ingrained within traditional finance, we strive to both drive growth and safeguard client assets in the most capital-efficient manner.”

Franklin Templeton joins the programme, offering tokenised money market funds, while Brevan Howard Digital has onboarded as one of the first institutional participants. Roger Bayston, Franklin Templeton’s head of digital assets, underscored the importance of blockchain integration, stating, “by ensuring assets are minted on-chain, we enable true ownership, allowing them to move and settle at blockchain speed.”

Ryan Taylor, group head of compliance at Brevan Howard Digital, reinforced the programme’s impact on institutional adoption, commenting, “this programme is the latest example of the continued innovation and institutionalisation of the industry. As a significant investor in the digital assets space, we are thrilled to partner with industry leaders to further grow and evolve the crypto ecosystem globally.”

A new era for institutional crypto trading

With banks and asset managers shaping the digital finance ecosystem, regulated collateral solutions are emerging as a blueprint for institutional crypto adoption. By offering secure, compliant, and scalable trading models, this initiative sets a precedent for broader institutional engagement with tokenised assets, accelerating digital finance integration.