Crypto exchange OKX has closed a new funding round, maintaining its valuation at $25 billion. This matches the exact valuation from its roughly $200 million capital injection from ICE - the owner of the New York Stock Exchange - back in March 2026. While management did not disclose the total amount of fresh capital raised this time, the roster of participating investors highlights direct collaboration between digital asset heavyweights and traditional finance.
Circle Internet Group and Ripple led the contingent of crypto industry investors, while Standard Chartered represented traditional banking through its SC Ventures arm. The presence of Qube Research & Technologies (QRT) completed the funding structure. QRT is a London-based quantitative firm and Credit Suisse spinout that manages around $1 billion in crypto funds.
Why Quantitative Firms Are Backing the Round
QRT’s involvement sends a distinct signal regarding market direction. The European institution’s move reflects confidence in the long-term growth of digital assets and around-the-clock trading models.
OKX Global Managing Partner Haider Rafique stated that the exchange will use the new funds to strengthen long-term market infrastructure. The exchange’s institutional push also enjoys high-profile support at the board level. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo currently serves on OKX’s board and as co-chair of the joint venture OKXICE.
Selling Apple Stock via Special SEC Pathway
Beyond capital raising, OKX is executing a broader market strategy to bridge conventional assets. Joint venture OKXICE LLC - an entity co-owned by OKX and ICE - formally filed an application on Monday to offer tokenized shares of 63 US companies. The filing list includes giants such as Nvidia, Apple, and Coca-Cola.
Eligible platforms can now take advantage of the SEC’s newly introduced innovation exemption pathway. This relief rule permits venues to trade tokenized US stocks on public blockchain networks without the obligation to register as a national securities exchange. The special regulatory permission remains effective for up to five years.
As an initial step into equities, the exchange launched perpetual futures contracts for the Magnificent Seven stock basket and the S&P 500 index. The capital influx from Standard Chartered paired with these ambitious tokenization plans indicates OKX is no longer just an ordinary crypto exchange. They are actively shifting traditional stock trading directly onto blockchain rails. Reported by Decrypt.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
