Regulated Markets Power OKX Growth, With APAC Near 30% of Global CEX Volume

OKX is seeing regulated markets pull sharply ahead of the rest of its business, with Asia-Pacific emerging as one of the clearest engines of that growth.

Internal end-of-year data shared by OKX with Blockhead shows trading volume in licensed and regulated markets surging 53 times this year across jurisdictions including the U.S., Singapore, the UAE and the European Economic Area.

Asia-Pacific has been a material part of that expansion. According to Lennix Lai, OKX’s global chief compliance officer, APAC exchange volumes grew roughly 20% year on year and now represent just under 30% of the platform’s global centralised exchange (CEX) activity.

“Asia-Pacific is one of the strongest engines behind that expansion,” Lai told Blockhead, pointing to sustained activity in regulated venues rather than short-term bursts of speculative trading.

User growth has followed a similar trajectory. OKX’s data shows daily active wallets doubling year on year, with an average of around 190,000 new wallets created every day in 2025 so far. Activity has accelerated across both centralised and decentralised products. Global DEX trading volume rose 262% this year, nearly a fourfold increase, while CEX trading volumes climbed 16% globally, underscoring the continued importance of mature exchange infrastructure even as onchain usage scales.

Singapore growth tied to infrastructure confidence

In Singapore, Lai said growth is less about aggressive promotions and more about trust in the underlying rails. He pointed to proof-of-reserves disclosures, security investments and independent certifications as factors that increasingly influence how users choose platforms.

He added that OKX has prioritised security, controls and auditability so users feel comfortable engaging with digital assets through systems that meet high regulatory and operational standards.

“For us, trust is the real currency in this market,” Lai said. “We’re investing in that first and foremost, so that when customers choose to engage with digital assets, they feel they are doing so on infrastructure that meets the most rigorous standards.”

That approach appears to align with how APAC users behave on the platform. OKX’s data shows the region contributes just under 30% of global CEX volume, with meme-asset trading accounting for around 1% of that activity. Lai said this mix reflects interest in new narratives layered on top of a large base of more conventional trading and investment use cases.

Regulatory convergence as a tailwind

Looking ahead to 2026, OKX expects regulatory frameworks across Asia-Pacific to continue converging, even as individual jurisdictions move at different speeds.

“The expectation is that the APAC region will keep moving toward a common set of safeguards around asset segregation, on-hain transparency and higher bars for listings and stablecoins,” Lai said.

He noted that policy discussions across the region are increasingly focused on stronger custody requirements, clearer disclosure regimes and tighter oversight of stablecoins and exchange-traded products. That direction, he argued, naturally favours platforms that already operate with robust custody practices, regular proof-of-reserves and independent certifications.

“That convergence supports platforms that are built for the long term, rather than those optimising purely for short-term volume,” Lai said.

As a result, OKX is prioritising depth over breadth in its regional strategy. “Our focus is to deepen our presence in a small number of high-conviction markets where the rulebook is clear,” Lai said, adding that clearer regulation also makes it easier to responsibly introduce products such as stablecoin payments and compliant Web3 access alongside everyday financial activity.

Localised products and community-led partnerships

On the product side, OKX has leaned into localisation, particularly in Singapore, where Lai described the exchange’s licensed platform as being built “in Singapore, for Singapore.”

“We design everything with local users in mind,” he said. “Onboarding should feel familiar and safe, while more experienced users can access flexible trading modes and institutional-grade custody.”

Marketing and growth efforts in the region are also being shaped around partnerships that emphasise community engagement over traditional user acquisition. Lai said brand partnerships are less about lead generation and more about creating shared experiences around real products.

“With strategic partnerships, the goal isn’t primarily lead generation,” he said. “It’s about bringing passionate communities together around real product experiences.”

OKX’s partnerships with Manchester City and player ambassadors such as Jeremy Doku and Rúben Dias are part of that strategy. In Asia-Pacific, Lai said these collaborations are used to convene users through events, fan activations and educational sessions, giving people a hands-on introduction to OKX Wallet and related tools.

“That’s how people see, touch and participate in the technology together,” Lai said. “And that’s ultimately what builds trust, advocacy and long-term adoption.”

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