Deribit has announced a strategic partnership with regulated custodian Komainu, aimed at enhancing the trading experience for institutional clients. According to the assessment of specialists presented in the publication, this collaboration, revealed on October 22, 2025, is set to transform how institutions manage their assets while engaging in derivatives trading.
Integration of Deribit and Komainu
The alliance integrates Deribit’s derivatives exchange with Komainu's Connect platform, allowing clients to manage collateral without the need to withdraw assets from custody. This innovative approach is designed to mitigate counterparty risk and settlement exposure, which have been significant barriers to institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies.
Benefits of the Partnership
According to Deribit CCO Jean-David Pquignot, this partnership ensures that clients benefit from enhanced security and operational efficiency. The collaboration reflects a growing trend in the crypto market, where institutional-grade custody solutions are increasingly linked with high-volume trading capabilities.
Komainu's Infrastructure
Komainu, which is supported by notable firms like Nomura, CoinShares, and Ledger, provides a robust infrastructure that includes:
- segregated wallets
- third-party reserve audits
This infrastructure is now seamlessly connected to Deribit’s liquid derivatives offerings, creating a compelling access point for institutions looking to enter the crypto market.
Attracting Institutional Investors
As macroeconomic conditions improve and regulatory clarity increases, this partnership is poised to attract a range of institutional investors, including pension funds and hedge funds, who have previously identified custodial risks as a major hurdle. While the implementation of this arrangement is ongoing, it marks a significant advancement towards enabling trade-in-custody derivatives, allowing institutions to engage in digital asset trading while ensuring their capital remains secure.
In a related development, Bybit has recently expanded its derivatives portfolio with new listings, including USDT-margined futures and options for popular cryptocurrencies. For more details, see read more.
