Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), parent of the New York Stock Exchange, and crypto exchange OKX have announced a 50-50 joint venture aimed at building regulated infrastructure that connects digital-asset and traditional markets. The venture, which requires regulatory approval, plans to operate as a U.S.-registered broker-dealer and futures commission merchant (FCM)—the licensed entities legally required to handle securities transactions and derivatives trading.
Through this single regulated channel, OKX’s 120 million global users would gain access to ICE’s U.S. futures markets and NYSE tokenized equities. This means crypto traders could trade traditional financial products directly from OKX’s platform, a significant step beyond existing crypto-meets-TradFi initiatives. The venture will be co-chaired by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and ICE Senior Vice President Trabue Bland.
The move follows ICE’s strategic investment in OKX in March 2026—approximately $200 million at a $25 billion valuation, including a board seat. The joint venture represents the operational next phase of that relationship and signals a broader convergence between traditional finance and crypto. It also explores “adjacent opportunities for regulatory-compliant blockchain-enabled markets,” which may include tokenized bonds and on-chain clearing and settlement.
By pursuing fully registered entities rather than offshore workarounds, the partnership aims to create an enduring bridge between massive retail crypto audiences and institutional-grade infrastructure. Cuomo, who has advised OKX since 2023, emphasized that the venture “brings together OKX’s world-class blockchain technology and ICE’s trusted market infrastructure.” However, actual operations depend on securing regulatory approvals.
