OKX is deepening the link between traditional finance and digital assets by adding BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized U.S. Treasury fund to its institutional collateral framework in partnership with Standard Chartered. The move allows eligible institutional and VIP clients to use the yield-bearing asset as trading margin while maintaining greater control over custody.
Under the framework, clients can keep BUIDL holdings off-exchange with Standard Chartered or deposit them directly on OKX Middle East, depending on their preferred structure. The arrangement forms part of what the companies describe as a global systemically important bank (G-SIB)-backed, off-exchange tokenized collateral model, an expansion of OKX’s existing collateral mirroring infrastructure.
Your collateral shouldn’t sit idle.
BlackRock’s BUIDL is now live as yield-bearing collateral on OKX — safeguarded in Tier 1 custody with Standard Chartered.
Together, the world’s largest asset manager, a G-SIB, and global digital market infrastructure set a new blueprint for… pic.twitter.com/DK45pFALVs
— OKX (@okx) April 28, 2026
Tokenized assets move from passive to productive use
The integration reflects a broader shift in how tokenized real-world assets are being used across crypto markets. Rather than sitting idle, instruments like BUIDL are now being positioned as active components within trading strategies.
Rifad Mahasneh, CEO of OKX Middle East, North Africa and CIS, said the update highlights the growing utility of tokenized funds in modern trading environments. Within OKX’s margin system, BUIDL is treated as fungible with dollar-based instruments such as USDC and fiat USD, enabling seamless deployment as collateral.
Notably, clients retain ownership of the underlying asset and continue earning its yield, even while using it to support leveraged positions, bridging a long-standing gap between capital efficiency and asset security.
Custody structure mirrors traditional finance standards
In the framework, Standard Chartered acts as the independent custodian, holding client collateral separately from OKX’s operational funds. This structure is designed to reduce counterparty risk and align with established financial market practices.
Meanwhile, OKX handles real-time margining and liquidation through its internal risk systems, ensuring trading operations remain efficient. However, the companies have not disclosed detailed mechanisms for handling margin requirements during periods of extreme market stress.
BUIDL, tokenized by Securitize, invests in cash, U.S. Treasury bills, and repurchase agreements, with yields distributed onchain. Its addition comes as competition intensifies in the tokenized Treasury space, with platforms like Binance also rolling out similar collateral offerings.
OKX confirmed the service is now live for select clients in the Middle East, with plans to expand access based on regulatory approval and market demand.
Enjoyed this piece? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Coin MarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with DeFi Planet PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.
