Who owns OKX?
Founder, HQ and licenses.
“Where is OKX from?”, “Is it Chinese?”, “Who runs it?” — the questions people ask most before signing up. Here’s the timeline, with every point traceable to public sources.
Who founded OKX? Star Xu
OKX was founded by Star Xu (Xu Mingxing), born in 1985. In 2013 he started OKCoin, one of the earliest bitcoin exchanges in China.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Star Xu founds OKCoin |
| 2017 | OKEx launches as a global exchange, registered offshore |
| 2021 | Stops serving mainland China users in line with Chinese rules |
| Jan 2022 | OKEx rebrands to OKX |
| Feb 2025 | Settles with the US Department of Justice over past US customers |
| Apr 2025 | OKX US launches; global HQ set in San Jose, California |
| Mar 2026 | NYSE owner ICE invests at a ~$25B valuation |
Star Xu is founder and CEO; Hong Fang is president.
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Where is OKX based?
OKX’s early operating entity was registered in Seychelles, with offices in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and elsewhere. In April 2025 OKX relaunched in the US and named San Jose, California its global headquarters.
Note that “where the HQ is” and “which company serves your account” are different: OKX serves each region through a local entity — EU users through its European entity, Singapore users through OKX SG, and so on. The user agreement you accept at sign-up names the entity that serves you.
Is OKX a Chinese company?
- Founders: yes, the founding team is from China.
- Operating entities: all registered and regulated outside mainland China.
- Mainland China: OKX stopped serving mainland users in 2021.
The accurate answer: OKX is a global exchange founded by Chinese entrepreneurs and registered and licensed overseas.
Is OKX licensed?
| Region | Entity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | OKX US | State money transmitter licenses; New York not supported |
| European Union | OKX EU | MiCA license; Malta payment institution license in 2026 |
| UAE | OKX Middle East | Licensed by Dubai’s VARA |
| Singapore | OKX SG | MAS licensed; derivatives restricted for retail |
| Australia | OKX Australia | AUSTRAC registered; derivatives for wholesale clients only |
| Bahamas, Türkiye, Brazil… | Local entities | Local rules apply |
More licenses mean more oversight — and also that some products are limited in some regions.
Was OKX fined in the US?
Yes. In February 2025 OKX settled with the US Department of Justice over serving US customers without registration in the past, pleading guilty and paying roughly $505 million.
- The case concerned past compliance failures, not misuse of customer assets.
- OKX then returned to the US as a licensed business and, in 2026, took investment from NYSE owner ICE.
- OKX has published monthly proof of reserves since late 2022, which you can verify with a Merkle tree tool.
No centralized exchange is risk-free. Set up your security settings, and consider moving long-term holdings to a wallet you control.
How big is OKX?
When ICE invested in March 2026, reports put OKX at about 120 million users and a ~$25 billion valuation. It consistently ranks among the top exchanges by volume, with spot and perpetual markets for hundreds of coins.
OKX background
FAQ.
01Who owns OKX?
OKX was founded by Star Xu, who is founder and CEO. ICE, the NYSE owner, became a minority shareholder in March 2026.
02Where is OKX headquartered?
Since April 2025, in San Jose, California. Its operating entity was previously registered in Seychelles.
03Is OKX the same as OKEx?
Yes. OKEx rebranded to OKX in January 2022; accounts and assets were unaffected.
04Is OKX a Chinese company?
Its founders are Chinese, but its operating entities are registered and licensed outside mainland China, and it stopped serving mainland users in 2021.
05Why was OKX fined $505 million?
In February 2025 OKX settled with the US DOJ over serving US customers without registration in the past. It concerned compliance, not customer funds.
06Is OKX regulated?
Yes, through licensed or registered entities in the US, EU (MiCA), UAE, Singapore, Australia, the Bahamas, Türkiye and more.
Keep reading,
more account guides.
Who owns OKX, who can open an account, which countries are supported, how to lock down your account, what to do if you lose your phone — and what changed in 2026.
OKX age requirement
18+, your own valid ID, and why you should never use someone else’s identity.
OKX account modesFunding vs trading account
Why you can’t trade after depositing, how transfers work, which account mode to pick.
OKX fee tiersOKX VIP levels
Regular vs VIP 1–9 thresholds and fees, and how regular users get VIP-level rates.
OKX vs BybitOKX vs Bybit, Coinbase, HTX
Fees, hacks, licenses and beginner-friendliness side by side.
What is OKX AI?What’s new at OKX in 2026
OKX AI, the OKX Card, ICE’s investment, IPO talk and the OKX Now event.