OKX is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange for trading digital assets. It was founded in 2013 by Star Xu and expanded internationally, launching as OKEx in Hong Kong in 2017 before adopting the OKX name. As a centralized exchange it holds customer assets on their behalf, a custodial model in which the platform controls the keys to crypto kept in a user's account. OKX also offers a separate self-custody product, the OKX Wallet, which lets people hold their own keys and connect to decentralized finance apps; that wallet is distinct from funds held in an OKX trading account. The company is privately held and is not listed on any stock exchange.
OKX runs a broad trading platform covering a wide range of digital assets, and over the years it grew into one of the more active venues in the market. Its history is tied closely to shifting rules in Asia. In October 2020 the exchange briefly halted withdrawals while its founder cooperated with a police investigation, which left some users unable to move funds for a stretch. In October 2021, OKX exited mainland China as the country tightened its stance on crypto trading.
The platform's availability has also changed in the United States. After a period without a US offering, OKX relaunched its US exchange in 2025 and moved its headquarters to San Jose, California. That relaunch followed a 500 million dollar settlement with the US Department of Justice reached earlier the same year, which resolved the government's case against the company. Access and licensing differ by country and shift over time, so check whether OKX is available and regulated where you live before signing up, and keep in mind the difference between custodial trading accounts and the self-custody OKX Wallet.