Crypto exchange OKX announced on Tuesday that it has raised new funding at a $25 billion pre-money valuation. The strategic investment round included participation from stablecoin issuer Circle, fintech firm Ripple, and Standard Chartered’s investment arm, SC Ventures. QRT also joined the fundraise, according to an official announcement by the company.
The capital is intended to support OKX’s expansion into tokenizing real-world assets and evolving beyond its origins as a trading platform. Earlier this year, Intercontinental Exchange invested in OKX to accelerate tokenization efforts, leading to the formation of a joint venture named OKXICE. This entity recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a tokenized securities platform for around-the-clock trading of U.S. stocks. OKX CEO Star Xu stated that the new funds align critical builders behind the vision for next-generation onchain markets.
This funding round signals a deepening integration between traditional financial infrastructure providers and crypto-native exchanges. By securing backing from established entities like Standard Chartered and Circle, OKX is positioning itself not merely as a trading venue but as a foundational layer for asset tokenization. The involvement of these institutional players suggests a validation of OKX’s strategy to bridge legacy finance systems with blockchain rails, particularly through initiatives like the OKXICE joint venture which seeks regulatory approval for continuous stock trading.
The move reflects broader market trends where major financial institutions are increasingly engaging with digital asset technology under a more favorable regulatory environment. With the SEC having approved tokenized stock trading in September and political shifts influencing oversight stances, the alignment of capital from firms like Ripple and SC Ventures indicates a strategic bet on the convergence of decentralized and centralized finance. Investors should monitor how OKX utilizes this capital to navigate compliance requirements while expanding its global financial technology footprint.
