Standard Chartered to Hold OKX Client Crypto in Europe

• OKX expands collateral mirroring service with Standard Chartered to strengthen European crypto security.
• The partnership integrates bank-grade custody and exchange access, enhancing institutional trading confidence.
• MiCA license and regulated custody framework reinforce OKX’s long-term European market commitment.

OKX Strengthens European Presence with Standard Chartered

The move to open an alliance with Standard Chartered in the European Economic Area (EEA) is a major milestone by crypto exchange OKX in consolidating conventional banking norms with digital asset markets. The expansion builds on a pilot service launched in Dubai earlier this year, where OKX and Standard Chartered introduced a collateral mirroring program allowing institutional clients to securely hold assets with a Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) while trading mirrored balances on OKX.

Erald Ghoos, the CEO of OKX Europe, states that the initiative offers bank-grade custody and free access to the exchange, and they allow institutions to reduce counterparty risk and trade more confidently. OKX claimed such an extension of partnership proved an increasing confidence of European regulators and institutions in its model, which makes the exchange a bridge between regulated finance and digital innovation.

The development is timely for the industry, as it occurred after the crash of the crypto market in October that rekindled the doubts about the reliability of the exchanges. Ghoos wrote that OKX’s strategy focuses on transparency and strong collaborations, aiming to show that the Wild West era of crypto is ending.

Collateral Mirroring Expands Under MiCA Framework

Through the expanded structure, institutional clients in Europe can now hold their crypto with Standard Chartered while OKX reflects those assets on its trading platform. Such a combination will enable the clients to enjoy the regulated custody structure of the bank and the superior trading options of the OKX.

Prior to this collaboration, the institutional investors of OKX were largely using the in-house custody platform or third-party custodians such as Copper and Komainu. It is the first instance of a significant international bank providing direct protection of the assets of the OKX clients in the EEA.

Margaret Harwood-Jones, Global Head of Financing and Securities Services at Standard Chartered, stated that the collaboration will use its existing infrastructure in custody services and the regulatory environment of OKX to maintain the most stringent security and compliance standards.

Moreover, the plan also supports the European strategy of OKX, as earlier in 2025 the company acquired a MiCA license in Malta. OKX claimed that MiCA offers regulatory certainty, which allows institutions to invest capital knowing that they will operate in a safe, law-abiding space. The collaboration between trust, regulation, and innovation is putting a new standard of institutional management of digital assets in Europe between the OKX and Standard Chartered.