16yh April 2025 – (New York) International cryptocurrency exchange OKX announced on Wednesday its official expansion into the U.S. market, marking a significant milestone in its global operations. The company has launched its trading platform in 46 states and Washington, D.C., while establishing a new headquarters in San Jose, California. As part of the move, financial services veteran and former Barclays executive Roshan Robert was named as the U.S. CEO.
OKX, originally founded in China in 2013 and now based in the Seychelles, operates in over 100 countries worldwide. This expansion is accompanied by a rebranding effort in which OKX’s U.S. entity, previously known as Okcoin, will now consolidate under the OKX brand. Existing users are set to benefit from enhanced features, including deeper liquidity, lower fees, and advanced trading tools, according to Robert.
The company also introduced a self-custody wallet supporting over 130 blockchains, enabling users to swap tokens, transfer assets across chains, explore NFTs, and engage with popular Web3 applications. This wallet is part of OKX’s broader strategy to deliver a comprehensive crypto experience to both retail and institutional customers.
The announcement comes at a time of changing regulatory dynamics in the U.S. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the crypto industry has benefited from a more favorable environment. The Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped cases against several firms, including Coinbase, and clarified that most memecoins are not considered securities. Additionally, the Department of Justice has disbanded its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, signalling a more lenient regulatory stance.
Positioned as the world’s fifth-largest cryptocurrency spot exchange by traffic, liquidity, and trading volumes, OKX aims to offer U.S. users an alternative to existing platforms like Binance, Bybit, Coinbase, and Upbit. Robert emphasized the company’s focus on providing customer choice and robust compliance. “We’re bringing to the U.S. a new alternative with strong compliance and risk management architecture,” he said. “Our platform offers fiat on-ramps, low fees, deep liquidity for retail users, and institutional-grade compliance for institutional clients.”