Singapore, Jan 9 2024: AsiaNext, an institution-only global digital asset exchange, has successfully launched crypto derivatives trading – a crucial development for institutional investors seeking a safe and secure venue to trade digital assets. Headquartered in Singapore, AsiaNext is a joint venture between SBI Digital Asset Holdings (SBI DAH) and SIX.
AsiaNext is part of the industry’s only fully integrated digital asset ecosystem, that provides an institutional-grade, end-to-end digital assets value chain to professional investors. Trading members, including renowned market maker B2C2 and a leading prime broker, benefit from reduced counterparty and settlement risk and can enjoy capital efficiencies through the venue’s innovative risk management process, flexibility, and capabilities to support frequent intra-day margining and settlement runs.
Pioneering a unique connectivity solution, AsiaNext also supports low latency and high frequency trading available 24/7 (for crypto derivatives), as part of a suite of connectivity options for its members. This adds flexibility and comfort for professional traders at institutions. Its matching engine is also built and customised to the demands of an institutional-grade venue.
"Through engaging with the AsiaNext team in recent months, we've witnessed their unwavering commitment to governance and risk management, alongside their focus on aligning closely with our needs. This instils a high level of confidence in our partnership. Being at the forefront of digital asset adoption, we are pleased to provide liquidity on the venue through our collaboration.” – Thomas Restout, CEO, B2C2.
“As more traditional financial institutions explore alternative exposure to digital assets, partnering with AsiaNext enables us to elevate our derivatives offering, positioning Wintermute in the foreground of the expanding digital asset ecosystem.” - Evgeny Gaevoy, Founder & CEO, Wintermute.
AsiaNext, who received regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore back in September, will provide a broad product pipeline including digital securities, tokenised real-world assets and sustainability-focused listings. The launch follows a joint survey carried out by SBI DAH and AsiaNext revealing that most institutions have increased their exposure to digital assets in the last 12 months. Despite the ‘crypto winter’, 60% report an increase in client demand for tokenised securities.
“The main motivation was to create a fair, orderly and transparent venue through which institutions can transact with confidence; that helps them realise the benefits of digital assets and crypto, while helping to minimise the downside risk,” said Chong Kok Kee, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaNext. “By putting regulation and rigorous governance at the forefront, we’re providing institutional investors with a safe venue for exposure to digital assets in this region.”
“The future of finance is in bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and digital ecosystems, with institutional adoption of digital assets emerging as a key pathway. AsiaNext, an institutional-grade solution, is poised to accelerate this transformative journey,” Jos Dijsselhof, CEO, SIX.
"As institutions increasingly recognise the comprehensive benefits offered by digital assets, the emphasis on risk management and a robust underlying infrastructure from venues like AsiaNext becomes paramount," Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO, SBI Holdings.
Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker