Key Highlights
- OKX raised fresh funding from Circle, Ripple, SC Ventures, and QRT at a $25 billion valuation.
- OKB jumped 7.7% to around $136.90, with its market cap reaching about $2.87 billion.
- OKX is expanding into tokenized U.S. stocks through its joint venture with NYSE owner ICE.
OKB, the native token of crypto exchange OKX, jumped during early trading hours on October 6, after the exchange announced fresh investments from Circle, Ripple, SC Ventures and Qube Research & Technologies (QRT), keeping its valuation at $25 billion.
According to a Bloomberg report published on Tuesday, the four companies invested in OKX, although the exchange did not reveal how much money it received from the latest deal. The new backing comes months after Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, invested about $200 million in OKX in March at the same $25 billion valuation.
OKB reacts to funding announcement
OKB reacted shortly after the investment announcement. According to data from CoinMarketCap, the token climbed about 7.7% during the early hours and was trading at $136.90 as of October 6 (14:31 UTC).
The move pushed OKB’s market cap to approximately $2.87 billion, with $117.83 million in volume. Data from CoinMarketCap also shows that the daily surge adds to a stronger run for the token, which is up more than 13% over the past week as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies recover from the lows seen last week.
On a broader view, the token has gained about 24% since the beginning of 2026, making it one of the bigger gainers among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market value this year, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
Star Xu confirms the investors
OKX founder and CEO Star Xu confirmed the new investors in a post on X. “Grateful to welcome Circle, Ripple, QRT and SC Ventures as investors in OKX,” Xu said. He explained that the company did not bring in the new investors because it needed the money, but because it wanted partners that shared its long-term plans.
Those plans cover stablecoins, payments, institutional markets, and the systems needed to support financial services. In another post, Xu said, “13 years in, we’re still early,” showing that the company sees its next stage as another part of a much longer journey.
OKX moves beyond crypto trading
The new funding also comes as OKX works to expand beyond regular crypto trading. OKX and ICE are working together on a plan to offer tokenized shares of U.S. companies. Under the joint venture, the platforms have filed to offer tokenized trading through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Innovation Exemption framework.
The initial plan could reportedly cover as many as 63 companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with more stocks expected to be added later. Tokenized stocks are digital versions of traditional shares that can be traded using blockchain technology.
Ondo Finance also offers tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds, although its products are mainly available to people outside the United States.
OKX strengthens its U.S. presence
OKX has also taken steps to grow its presence in the U.S. Earlier this year, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo joined the exchange’s board and also became co-chair of the OKX-ICE joint venture.
At OKX Now 2026, where nearly 1,000 people attended, Xu said the company was still focused on building new products and systems for the next phase of finance.
For OKB holders, the latest gain comes as OKX brings in investors from both the crypto and traditional finance sectors and expands into new financial products.
Also Read: Why Are COIN, CRCL, HOOD and TSLA Up? Crypto Stocks Rise as Bitcoin Holds $86K
