The financial world is witnessing a pivotal moment in the convergence of traditional banking and digital asset innovation. Standard Chartered Bank and OKX, a leading global digital currency exchange and on-chain technology provider, have officially launched a globally pioneering staking asset mirroring project. This initiative enables institutional clients to use digital currencies and tokenized money market funds as over-the-counter staking collateral—backed by one of the world’s most prominent systemically important banks for custody. The collaboration marks a major leap forward in security, capital efficiency, and institutional adoption within the digital asset ecosystem.
Bridging Traditional Finance and Digital Innovation
At the heart of this project is a powerful synergy: Standard Chartered’s trusted global custody infrastructure meets OKX’s cutting-edge digital asset capabilities. Institutional clients can now stake digital assets with significantly reduced counterparty risk, thanks to secure, regulated custody managed by Standard Chartered. This model enhances confidence in digital asset operations while streamlining capital deployment across both traditional and blockchain-based financial systems.
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Margaret Harwood-Jones, Head of Global Financing and Securities Services at Standard Chartered Bank, emphasized the strategic importance of robust custody solutions:
“In the face of the ever-changing landscape of digital assets, we understand that secure and compliant custody is crucial. This collaboration with OKX—enabling the use of digital currencies and tokenized money market funds as staking assets—marks a key step in boosting confidence and improving efficiency for our institutional clients. Leveraging our mature custody framework, we ensure the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance.”
Regulatory Alignment and Pilot Launch in Dubai
The staking asset mirroring project has launched its pilot phase under the regulatory oversight of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This positions the initiative at the forefront of compliant digital finance innovation in a jurisdiction known for its progressive approach to blockchain regulation.
Standard Chartered operates as an independent custodian within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), ensuring that all staked assets are securely stored under stringent international standards. Meanwhile, OKX manages the operational execution of staking activities through its VARA-licensed entity, creating a balanced, secure, and transparent framework.
Franklin Templeton Joins as Key Fund Partner
A major highlight of the project is the participation of Franklin Templeton, a recognized leader in tokenized real-world assets (RWA). The firm will be among the first to offer its tokenized money market funds through this joint platform, enabling seamless integration of on-chain financial instruments into institutional workflows.
Roger Baysto, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, highlighted the transformative potential:
“Our platform is built on blockchain technology to support the dynamic evolution of finance. Whether through direct investment or internal innovation, we commit to authentic on-chain operations—minting assets on-chain ensures true ownership and enables settlement at blockchain speed, breaking free from legacy infrastructure constraints.”
This integration allows OKX users to directly access high-quality, regulated tokenized funds developed by Franklin Templeton’s digital assets team, bridging institutional-grade finance with decentralized flexibility.
Brevan Howard Digital: Early Institutional Adoption
The project has already attracted early participation from Brevan Howard Digital, the digital asset arm of global alternative investment giant Brevan Howard. As one of the first institutions to join, their involvement underscores growing demand for secure, efficient cross-border staking solutions backed by trusted financial institutions.
Ryan Taylor, Chief Compliance Officer of Brevan Howard and CEO of Brevan Howard Digital, stated:
“This project exemplifies ongoing innovation and institutionalization in the digital asset space. We’re proud to collaborate with industry leaders to advance the development of a resilient, scalable global digital currency ecosystem.”
Core Keywords Driving Institutional Trust
This landmark initiative revolves around several core keywords that define its value proposition:
- Staking asset mirroring
- Institutional digital asset custody
- Tokenized money market funds
- Blockchain-based settlement
- Real-world assets (RWA)
- Regulated crypto staking
- Capital efficiency
- Cross-border financial integration
These terms reflect not only the technical foundation but also the broader market shift toward hybrid financial models where blockchain efficiency meets institutional-grade security.
Why This Matters for the Future of Finance
The collaboration addresses two critical challenges in today’s digital asset landscape:
- Counterparty risk – A persistent concern in decentralized finance (DeFi) environments.
- Capital inefficiency – Institutions often face idle capital due to fragmented custody and settlement systems.
By combining Standard Chartered’s global custodial authority with OKX’s technological leadership, this project offers a scalable solution that supports large-scale capital deployment without compromising security or compliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is staking asset mirroring?
A: Staking asset mirroring allows institutional clients to use digital currencies or tokenized assets as collateral while having those assets securely held by a regulated custodian like Standard Chartered. It mirrors exposure without transferring ownership risk.
Q: How does this improve capital efficiency?
A: Clients can maintain exposure to staking rewards while keeping assets under high-grade custody, reducing idle capital and enabling concurrent use across multiple financial platforms.
Q: Is this available globally?
A: Currently operating under Dubai’s VARA framework, the pilot sets a precedent for global expansion as regulatory clarity increases in other jurisdictions.
Q: Are tokenized money market funds safe?
A: Yes—these funds are issued by reputable institutions like Franklin Templeton and backed by real-world assets. They operate under strict compliance protocols and benefit from on-chain transparency.
Q: Who manages the staked assets?
A: Standard Chartered provides secure custody, while OKX handles transaction execution via its licensed entity. This separation ensures both safety and operational agility.
Q: Can retail investors participate?
A: Initially designed for institutional clients, future phases may extend access to qualified retail participants as infrastructure scales.
A New Benchmark for Institutional Digital Finance
This partnership sets a new industry benchmark by merging the reliability of traditional finance with the speed and flexibility of blockchain innovation. As more institutions seek compliant pathways into digital assets, projects like this will become essential infrastructure for global capital markets.
With proven players like Franklin Templeton and Brevan Howard Digital already on board, the ecosystem is poised for rapid growth. The integration of tokenized RWAs, secure custody, and efficient staking mechanisms signals a maturing market ready for mainstream adoption.
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As blockchain continues to redefine financial services, collaborations between global banks and leading digital platforms will drive trust, scalability, and long-term sustainability—ushering in a new era of integrated global finance.