In a significant stride toward advancing institutional-grade digital asset services, OKX has announced a groundbreaking tripartite partnership with Komainu, a regulated digital asset custodian, and Atitlan, a UK-based crypto wealth manager. This collaboration introduces a secure, efficient framework enabling Atitlan to trade around the clock on the OKX platform while maintaining full self-custody of its Bitcoin holdings through Komainu’s segregated cold storage infrastructure.
This innovative model represents a pivotal development in the evolution of institutional crypto trading—bridging high-performance trading access with uncompromised asset security. As digital assets gain broader acceptance across global financial markets, demand for robust, compliant, and counterparty-risk-minimized solutions continues to rise. This partnership directly addresses those needs, setting a new benchmark for secure institutional engagement in cryptocurrency markets.
How the Self-Custody Mirroring Model Works
At the heart of this collaboration is OKX’s advanced settlement and mirroring solution, which allows Atitlan to mirror trading positions on OKX without transferring custody of its underlying Bitcoin assets. These assets remain securely held in segregated accounts managed by Komainu—a joint venture between Nomura, Ledger, and Holberton School—renowned for its enterprise-grade custody and regulatory compliance standards.
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The mirroring mechanism enables real-time execution and settlement on OKX’s market-leading trading infrastructure, while ensuring that private keys never leave Komainu’s secure environment. This eliminates exchange counterparty risk—a major concern for institutional investors—and enhances capital efficiency by allowing traders to leverage their holdings without relinquishing custody.
This service is delivered through OKX Bahamas, which operates under The Bahamas’ Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) regime and is regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB). This regulatory framework ensures strict adherence to compliance, transparency, and investor protection standards—key pillars in building long-term institutional trust.
Advancing Institutional Confidence in Crypto
Herman Loedolff, CEO of OKX Bahamas, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:
“This collaboration advances our diverse range of institutional digital asset trading products by enhancing asset security, reducing counterparty risk, and strengthening investor and regulator confidence. By combining our unwavering commitment to compliance and investor protection with robust custody solutions and a wide range of innovative derivative products, we empower institutional clients with a secure, transparent, and reliable trading environment.”
For asset managers like Atitlan, this model unlocks new possibilities for generating Bitcoin-denominated yield through active trading strategies—without relying on staking or lending mechanisms that expose investors to smart contract vulnerabilities or platform insolvency risks.
Yuval Reisman, CEO of Atitlan, highlighted the transformative potential:
“The new ‘mirroring’ service provided by OKX and Komainu is a huge milestone for the asset class. Finally, institutional players can benefit from the attractive alpha generated from crypto quant trading without exchange counterparty risk. It allows us to offer Bitcoin holders a way to generate Bitcoin yield via trading—much more attractive than current alternatives like staking and lending—without compromising on security.”
Core Keywords Driving Institutional Adoption
This partnership underscores several key themes shaping the future of digital finance:
- Institutional Bitcoin trading
- Self-custody solutions
- Crypto yield strategies
- Counterparty risk reduction
- Secure digital asset custody
- Mirroring technology
- Regulated crypto exchanges
- 24/7 crypto market access
These keywords reflect both market demand and technological innovation, illustrating how mature infrastructure is enabling traditional finance principles to converge with blockchain-native capabilities.
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Strengthening Security with Global Standards
Security remains paramount in institutional adoption. In line with this priority, OKX recently achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, the world’s most recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS). This certification validates OKX’s comprehensive security protocols, including data encryption, access controls, incident response, and continuous risk assessment—all independently audited and verified.
Combined with Komainu’s cold storage architecture and OKX’s segregated account structures, this multi-layered security approach ensures that client assets are protected against both external threats and internal vulnerabilities.
Expanding Access Across Regulated Markets
Beyond this tripartite partnership, OKX continues to expand its global footprint through compliant market entries. The platform has officially launched regulated centralized exchanges in Spain, Germany, and Poland via MiCA passporting from its Maltese headquarters—demonstrating a strong commitment to operating within evolving regulatory frameworks across Europe.
Additionally, OKX Pay—a new in-app crypto payment solution—is being rolled out globally, aiming to simplify everyday transactions for millions of users. Meanwhile, OKX US, led by CEO Roshan Robert, is paving the way for deeper integration of digital assets into American financial systems, focusing on secure, compliant innovation in Web3 and blockchain technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is collateral mirroring in crypto trading?
A: Collateral mirroring allows traders to use their off-exchange-held digital assets as collateral for trading activities without transferring ownership or custody. The asset’s value is mirrored on the exchange for margin purposes while remaining secured in independent custody.
Q: Why is self-custody important for institutional investors?
A: Self-custody reduces reliance on third parties, minimizing counterparty risk and enhancing control over assets. It aligns with fiduciary responsibilities and regulatory expectations for institutional-grade security.
Q: How does OKX ensure compliance across different jurisdictions?
A: OKX operates under local regulations in each market it serves—including DARE in The Bahamas, MiCA in Europe, and ongoing efforts in the U.S.—maintaining licensing, reporting, and oversight requirements tailored to regional legal frameworks.
Q: Can retail investors access similar yield-generating strategies?
A: While this specific mirroring solution is designed for institutions, OKX offers a range of yield products for retail users—including savings plans, staking, and derivatives trading—with robust security and transparency.
Q: Is Bitcoin yield possible without lending or staking?
A: Yes. Through active trading strategies enabled by mirroring technology, investors can generate Bitcoin-denominated returns without exposing assets to lending platforms or smart contracts.
Q: What role does Komainu play in this partnership?
A: Komainu acts as the qualified custodian, providing segregated cold storage and regulatory-compliant custody services for Atitlan’s Bitcoin holdings—ensuring assets remain secure and fully controlled outside the exchange environment.
The tripartite alliance between OKX, Atitlan, and Komainu marks a defining moment in the maturation of digital asset markets. By decoupling trading access from custody risk, it empowers institutions to pursue sophisticated yield strategies with confidence—ushering in a new era of secure, scalable, and compliant crypto finance.
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