OKX has secured strategic investment at a $25 billion valuation from a group of major financial and crypto firms. The funding round includes participation from Ripple, Circle Internet Group, Standard Chartered's SC Ventures, and Qube Research & Technologies. The exchange maintained its valuation while adding new investors, a milestone that comes as crypto companies vie for credibility with traditional financial institutions.
The deal follows a March investment in which Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, invested approximately $200 million in OKX at the same $25 billion valuation.
Expanding into Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets
The investor composition reflects OKX's strategic direction. Circle and Ripple operate in the stablecoin and digital payments space, while SC Ventures brings backing from a major global bank. Qube contributes institutional trading expertise to the shareholder base.
OKX has existing partnerships with Standard Chartered and BlackRock on tokenized collateral infrastructure, including integration of BlackRock's BUIDL fund into institutional trading workflows. A joint venture between OKX and ICE recently advanced plans for infrastructure supporting 24/7 tokenized U.S. stock trading.
Founder and CEO Star Xu stated the company aims to build a financial technology platform that combines crypto technology with standards expected from global financial institutions, evolving beyond its exchange origins into broader financial services.
New Consumer Product Launch
The funding announcement coincides with the launch of OKX Money, a standalone application targeting consumers in emerging markets. The app allows users to fund accounts with more than 50 currencies, which can be converted into dollar-backed stablecoins including USDC, USDT, and USDG. The product offers savings, transfers, and card payments, with eligible USDG balances earning rewards of up to 10% APY.
Regulatory Background
The institutional backing arrives following a regulatory development in 2025 when an OKX operating entity pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in the United States and agreed to pay more than $504 million in penalties and forfeiture.
Despite this history, the latest funding round demonstrates continued willingness from major banks, crypto infrastructure companies, and traditional market operators to invest directly in OKX's expansion into regulated financial markets.
