Cryptocurrency derivatives exchange D2X has announced a strategic partnership with ABN AMRO Clearing Bank to provide institutional clients with off-exchange collateral management services for trading crypto futures and options. The collaboration allows D2X members to trade derivatives on the platform while their digital asset custody remains in segregated accounts held directly in client names at ABN AMRO Clearing. D2X, which operates as a multilateral trading facility (MTF) regulated under MiFID, raised $10 million last year in a funding round led by Point72 Ventures.
This collateral model, well-established in traditional markets, aims to eliminate counterparty risk to the exchange by ensuring client assets remain separated from the trading venue’s own holdings. The partnership represents another step toward institutional adoption of crypto derivatives trading, providing the security and regulatory oversight that traditional financial institutions typically require.
ABN AMRO previously integrated Fireblocks’ digital asset custody technology with its existing systems, allowing clients to view assets through traditional interfaces while leveraging advanced security measures in the backend.
ABN AMRO’s blockchain experience
The partnership builds on ABN AMRO’s established position in blockchain and digital asset activities. In early 2023 the bank registered its first digital bond on a public blockchain, raising €450,000 for client APOC through a fully digital process. Later that year it was involved with a €5 million green bond issuance by Vesteda. Additionally, ABN AMRO recently completed a successful proof-of-concept with the trading platform 21X, conducting an onchain trade of tokenized assets against stablecoins.
The bank has consistently favored public blockchains for their transparency and interoperability, positioning itself at the forefront of institutional digital asset adoption.
This initiative follows a growing trend of traditional banks partnering with crypto exchanges to provide off-exchange collateral services. Similar arrangements, such as Standard Chartered’s partnership with OKX, demonstrate the increasing demand for institutional-grade custody solutions in the digital asset space.
