OKX Launches Perpetual Stock Contracts With Up to 10x Leverage

OKX Bridges Crypto and Equities Markets

On March 24, crypto exchange OKX officially launched perpetual contracts on stocks. The instruments are denominated in USDT, available around the clock, and support leverage of up to 10x.

The product targets traders in CIS countries, Asia, Latin America, Turkey, and other regions. Its core advantage lies in enabling users to react immediately to corporate earnings, macroeconomic events, and breaking news — without waiting for traditional stock exchanges to open.

Over 20 Instruments Available at Launch

At launch, more than 20 contracts spanning several categories are available to users:

• The Magnificent Seven — Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META);
• Technology sector — Palantir (PLTR), Intel (INTC), Micron Technology (MU), SanDisk (SNDK);
• Crypto-related companies — Strategy (MSTR), Coinbase (COIN), Robinhood (HOOD), Circle (CRCL);
• ETFs — S&P 500 (SPY).

Why This Matters

This launch further blurs the line between traditional finance and the crypto industry. Unlike platforms that require separate accounts for crypto and equities trading, OKX has unified both markets under a single account with shared collateral.

Traders can use Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), and staking assets as margin for stock contracts. Crucially, locked assets continue to generate yield — reducing opportunity costs for crypto holders who want exposure to equities.

Management Commentary and Roadmap

OKX founder and CEO Star Xu stated that the stock contract launch expands the platform's infrastructure, giving users access to global equity markets without restructuring their crypto portfolios. He described the move as a step toward integrating a broader range of real-world assets on OKX.

Over the coming months, the exchange plans to expand its equity instrument lineup and introduce additional products based on tokenized real-world assets (RWA).

Connection to ICE's Strategic Investment

The new product arrives in the wake of OKX's strategic partnership with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). On March 5, ICE announced a strategic investment in OKX at a $25 billion valuation. According to Bloomberg, the investment totaled approximately $200 million.

Under the terms of the deal, OKX's 120 million users will gain access to ICE's U.S. futures markets and tokenized stocks listed on the NYSE. The launch of perpetual stock contracts fits squarely into this broader strategy of converging crypto and traditional financial infrastructure.