Deribit, the crypto derivatives exchange acquired by Coinbase (COIN) earlier this year, is collaborating with digital asset management company Komainu to offer financial institutions the ability to trade assets on an ongoing basis without moving them from custody, the companies announced on Wednesday.
The agreement connects Deribit to Komainu Connect, a platform that manages collateral between trading venues and custodians. Institutional clients can keep all their funds within Komainu's regulated storage structure while executing trades on Deribit. This setup is aimed at mitigating counterparty and settlement risks, which have long been a concern among professional crypto traders.
Like the rest of the digital asset industry, crypto derivatives are also inching towards mainstream adoption in finance. Coinbase said in a recent interview that it expects many institutions from Europe and the United States to enter the space.
Backed by Laser Digital and in partnership with Japan's Nomura Bank, Komainu provides on-chain, remotely insolvent wallets and supports a wide range of collateral types, including tokenized Treasury funds such as BUIDL and Stake Ether (sETH). The companies said the integration is designed to meet the growing demand from institutional investors for secure and compliant digital asset trading.
“Customers want the highest levels of security and efficiency,” said Jean-David Péquignot, Chief Commercial Officer at Deribit. “If you team up with a guardian dog, you'll benefit from both.”
