• OKX and Standard Chartered now offer regulated crypto trading services across the European Economic Area.
• Institutions can trade digital assets in real time while their funds stay secure with Standard Chartered.
• OKX holds a MiCA license that supports regulated and safe digital asset trading for European institutions.

Digital asset exchange OKX and banking group Standard Chartered have expanded their institutional partnership into the European Economic Area (EEA). The growth enables institutional members within the region to have access to a controlled system of trading digital assets. The development was announced on October 15, with an earlier move in the United Arab Emirates announced earlier this year.

Through this model, clients can hold digital assets with Standard Chartered, a regulated custodian. These assets are mirrored as collateral on the OKX platform. This arrangement allows clients to trade in real time, with their assets being safely deposited in the bank. The framework directly addresses counterparty risk, which is one of the primary issues of institutions entering the crypto arena.

MiCA License Supports Regulatory Clarity

OKX operates under a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license. This license covers nine out of ten service categories required in the European Union. With this regulatory approval, OKX positions itself as a fully compliant exchange in the region.

The MiCA framework supports secure and transparent operations for digital asset providers. It also monitors strict risks and consumer protection standards in trading platforms. Such a degree of control is necessary to attract conventional financial institutions.

The expansion is similar to other OKX activities in Europe. This also involves a recent partnership with PayPal with an aim of enhancing fiat-to-crypto exchanges. The efforts show increased interest from European institutions that are interested in gaining secure access to crypto markets.

Institutional Adoption Continues to Grow

Since launching the custody model in the UAE in April 2025, the program has gained over $100 million in assets under custody. It has also attracted major institutional clients, such as Brevan Howard Digital. These institutions seek regulated entry points and secure asset storage. Moreover, Mastercard previously partnered with OKX and Nuvei to expand stablecoin payments and allow merchants to accept crypto worldwide.

The participation of established players indicates increasing demand for institutional-grade crypto services. As regulations become clearer, more institutions are entering the space. These increasing needs are satisfied by a reliable banking partner coupled with a strong trading platform.

The partnership provides seamless asset protection and real-time trading, addressing compliance and operational needs. Institutions can engage in digital markets without compromising asset security or regulatory expectations.

Banking Sector Deepens Role in Digital Assets

Standard Chartered continues to broaden its digital asset strategy. The bank has launched a crypto trading desk for institutional clients. It also maintains an optimistic outlook on market growth, supported by increasing institutional participation.

Besides the trading activities, the bank examines tokenized money and other Web3 projects. These changes are indicators of a changing role of the traditional banks in the digital asset economy. The long-term collaboration with OKX supports this change. The collaboration delivers a unified platform for secure trading and regulated custody.