TLDR Circle, Ripple, QRT, and SC Ventures have invested in OKX. The latest financing keeps OKX’s pre-money valuation at $25 billion. OKX plans to expand beyond crypto trading into payments an
TLDR
- Circle, Ripple, QRT, and SC Ventures have invested in OKX.
- The latest financing keeps OKX’s pre-money valuation at $25 billion.
- OKX plans to expand beyond crypto trading into payments and traditional assets.
- OKXICE seeks to offer 24/7 trading in tokenized shares of 63 U.S. companies.
- Institutional adoption may depend on liquidity, reliable pricing and long-term regulatory certainty.
Crypto exchange OKX has secured fresh backing from Circle, Ripple, Qube Research & Technologies, and SC Ventures as it expands beyond digital asset trading. The company did not disclose the investment size, but the financing values OKX at $25 billion before the new capital.
The funding extends a March investment from Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange. OKX says it plans to build one platform for trading, payments, investing and other financial services.
OKX Draws New Strategic Investors
The investor group links OKX with companies active in stablecoins, payments, custody and institutional trading. Circle issues USDC, while Ripple runs payment products and issues the RLUSD stablecoin.
SC Ventures is the venture arm of Standard Chartered. The bank also works with BlackRock and OKX on custody arrangements tied to tokenized assets, while QRT provides institutional liquidity and trading capacity.
The expansion comes as major crypto exchanges add services that sit closer to traditional finance. Payments, stablecoins, stocks and tokenized assets have become important areas as firms search for new sources of revenue.
Recent market activity also shows wider use of stablecoins outside crypto trading. A USDC stablecoin settlement pilot between Lloyds and Visa tested faster transfers across financial networks, adding another example of blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
Tokenized Stocks Face Liquidity Test
OKX and ICE have also moved into tokenized equities through their joint venture, OKXICE. The venture filed with the SEC to offer round-the-clock trading in shares of 63 U.S. companies.
The proposed market would use OKX’s X Layer blockchain and stablecoins for settlement. Related plans for 24/7 tokenized U.S. stock trading show how digital asset firms are testing regulated access to traditional securities.
Macquarie said institutional adoption will depend on liquidity, company participation and reliable pricing throughout the day. The temporary five-year SEC framework may also affect how quickly large firms connect their systems.
Ripple is also expanding blockchain payment activity in Asia, where XRP Asia payments expansion has launched as part of a wider payments push. These developments place stablecoins and blockchain settlement closer to mainstream finance.
OKX’s latest funding gives the company more strategic partners as it builds across crypto and traditional markets. The company now needs to prove that users and institutions will adopt the broader platform as it enters more regulated financial services worldwide.
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