OKX, BlackRock and Standard Chartered launch joint framework to build new utilities for tokenized RWA

by
Alyssa Davidson

Posted: Apr 28, 2026 7:02 AM Updated: Apr 28, 2026 7:02 AM

by Anastasia Oh

Edit and fact check date: April 28, 2026, 7:02 a.m.

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OKX, a global fintech company and cryptocurrency trading platform, announced the introduction of a joint framework developed with BlackRock and Standard Chartered to integrate BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized short-term treasury funds into collateral workflows. The agreement marks the first time a globally systemically important bank (G-SIB) has acted as a custodian in such a structure. The framework is designed to allow OKX clients to hold collateral in regulated over-the-counter custody while continuing to trade in a unified platform environment.

Under this structure, OKX VIPs and institutional clients will be able to post BUIDL as Standard Chartered’s over-the-counter collateral and maintain trading activity on OKX’s Middle East platform without the need to transfer assets between venues. BUIDL can be deposited and traded on exchanges and can also be used as collateral with guaranteed returns for margin trading purposes.

The framework connects BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized by Securitize (which announced a proposed business combination with Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc.), Standard Chartered’s regulated custody services as a G-SIB, and OKX’s institutional execution and margin infrastructure. This structure positions itself as an integrated model where custody and trading functions operate within a coordinated system, and represents a further step towards integrating tokenization into the broader financial market infrastructure.

“Partnering with G-SIB was a deliberate choice rooted in how institutions actually operate. Risk-conscious clients expect their trading collateral to be stored in systemically important banks globally, and we have built this framework to reflect those standards. G-SIB participation directly addresses counterparty risk by providing third-party verification at the custody level beyond internal currency risk controls. Combined with BUIDL’s bankruptcy remote structure and yield-bearing characteristics as collateral, this provides both: capital efficiency and Best-in-class risk mitigation,” OKX MENA and CIS CEO Rifad Mahasneh told MPost.

“We believe this will become a non-negotiable standard for serious, regulated global digital asset exchanges. This is where the market is heading. Institutions want access to yielding balance sheet remote collateral, and more traditional bank participation will be a meaningful catalyst for the adoption of tokenized RWA and move tokenization from concept to everyday institutional use. OKX has always embraced the concept of self-custodial, and especially in the institutional context, this is important: Absolutely,” he added.

The agreement is also described as providing a number of functional outcomes, including the ability for collateral to remain productive while in use, enabling monetization during margin deployment through BUIDL. This expands the use of real assets as collateral across the platform, positioning BUIDL as a system-wide collateral vehicle. In addition, customer assets are stored separately at Standard Chartered separately from exchange assets, while allowing trading activities on OKX without transfer of custody, a structure designed to strengthen protection against exchange default risk.

BlackRock, Standard Chartered, and OKX highlight the integration of tokenized RWAs that serve as a bridge between TradFi and digital markets.

This collaboration, involving a large asset management company, a systemically important global bank, and a digital asset exchange, is presented as an example of the convergence of traditional financial infrastructure and digital markets. This is intended to support widespread adoption of real-world asset tokenization within the global financial system.

“BUIDL is designed to bring the benefits of tokenization to short-term financial exposure, allowing qualified investors to earn U.S. dollar returns on blockchain rails,” Samara Cohen, head of global markets development at BlackRock, said in a written statement. “OKX and Standard Chartered’s framework opens up new opportunities for qualified investors in how they deploy collateral,” she added.

“This collaboration highlights the potential for tokenizing real-world assets (RWA) at scale. By enabling institutions to deploy BUIDL as on-chain collateral on OKX’s global platform, it improves capital efficiency while demonstrating how traditional financial instruments can operate seamlessly in digital markets,” Haider Rafique, Global Managing Partner at OKX, said in a written statement. “Tokenization is about making existing markets faster, more transparent and more accessible,” he added.

“Our role as custodian in this initiative reflects our commitment to providing clients with trusted and innovative solutions as the financial ecosystem evolves,” Margaret Harwood-Jones, global head of financial and securities services at Standard Chartered, said in a written statement. “By providing BUIDL’s secure custody for this collateral use case, we are helping our customers access digital asset opportunities with a high level of protection and compliance. This framework demonstrates how traditional financial institutions and digital market infrastructure can work together to safely and efficiently deliver tokenized assets to global investors,” he added.

This release follows institutional testing and integration efforts. BlackRock’s BUIDL is issued on a public blockchain and invests in cash, US Treasury bonds and repurchase agreements, with returns distributed on-chain. The integration into OKX’s collateral system serves as proof that tokenized real-world assets can function within established institutional workflows for trading, margin, and liquidity management.

As a dedicated journalist at MPost, Alisa specializes in the broad areas of cryptocurrency, AI, investing, and Web3. With a keen eye for new trends and technologies, she provides comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers about the ever-evolving digital financial landscape.

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