Singapore-Based AsiaNext Announces Launch of Crypto Derivatives Trading

AsiaNext, an institution-only global digital asset trading venue, announced on Tuesday (January 9) the launch of crypto derivatives trading. Headquartered in Singapore, AsiaNext is a joint venture between SBI Digital Asset Holdings (SBI DAH) and SIX.

According to AsiaNext, the trading venue will become part of the upcoming 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 and capabilities to support frequent intra-day margining and settlement runs.

"B2C2 supports efforts to enhance institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, as a leading liquidity provider delivering deep and reliable pricing across market conditions. We are pleased to be working with the AsiaNext team to provide liquidity on their venue, with its robust governance and risk management, aligning closely with our approach and focus," said Thomas Restout, CEO of B2C2.

"As more traditional financial institutions seek to gain exposure to digital assets, the demand for crypto derivatives has been rapidly increasing. Wintermute Asia's collaboration with AsiaNext enables us to further refine our derivatives offerings, aligning with the evolving market needs and positioning us to cater to the diverse trading requirements of our counterparties," added Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO & Co-founder of Wintermute Group.

"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 of SIX Group.

"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 of SBI Holdings.

Last September, the crypto exchange tailored exclusively to institutions had been granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)​ to operate as a Recognised Market Operator (RMO) in the region.