At TOKEN2049 Dubai, I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion addressing the solution to one of the most urgent infrastructure challenges facing institutional crypto adoption today. The off-exchange custody model, jointly developed by OKX and Standard Chartered with the valued support of Franklin Templeton, may well prove to be one of the most consequential recent developments in the digital asset space.

This innovation offers a robust solution to one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: counterparty risk. By separating custody from execution, the model delivers new levels of transparency, asset protection and operational integrity. For institutions ranging from sovereign funds to endowments and pension funds this structure could prove pivotal.

Hong F., President of OKX, with her deep experience in both TradFi and blockchain, outlined how institutional feedback had shaped the model and how VARA’s regulatory environment in Dubai had supported its development. Her insights set a compelling vision for what comes next.

Tony Pecore, SVP/ Director Digital Asset Management at Franklin Templeton, and Waqar Chaudry, Head of Digital Assets Financing and Securities Services at Standard Chartered, also provided most valuable insights from their own perspectives.

The fusion of crypto agility and institutional rigour is no longer aspirational. It is here today and it is evolving fast. We were grateful to all who contributed to the discussion and to those helping shape this new infrastructure.

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