Deribit, Komainu Join Forces for Institutional In-Custody Crypto Trading

Deribit, the crypto derivatives exchange acquired by Coinbase (COIN) earlier this year, is working with digital asset custodian Komainu to offer institutions the ability to trade continuously without moving assets off custody, the companies said on Wednesday.

The agreement links Deribit to Komainu Connect, a platform that manages collateral between trading venues and custodians. Institutional clients can keep their funds entirely within Komainu’s regulated custody structure while executing trades on Deribit. This setup aims to reduce counterparty and settlement risks, long-standing concerns among professional crypto traders.

Like the rest of the digital asset industry, crypto derivatives are edging towards mainstream financial adoption. In a recent interview, Coinbase said it expects a wave of institutions from Europe and the U.S. to enter the space.

Komainu, backed by Laser Digital and linked to Japanese bank Nomura, offers on-chain, bankruptcy-remote segregated wallets and supports a range of collateral types, including tokenized Treasury funds like BUIDL and staked ether (sETH). Both companies said the integration is designed to meet increasing institutional demand for secure and compliant digital asset trading.

“Clients want the highest level of security and efficiency,” said Jean-David Péquignot, Deribit’s chief commercial officer. “Partnering with Komainu gives them both.”