Key Takeaways
- OKX becomes the first global exchange to offer regulated crypto derivatives for the UAE retail investors, signaling a major step in the region’s digital asset maturity.
- The launch introduces futures, perpetuals, and options to retail users, expanding access to advanced trading tools under strict regulatory oversight.
- This rollout cements OKX’s strategic expansion in the Middle East, following its 2024 VASP license and deep collaboration with UAE regulators.
OKX, one of the leading global crypto exchanges and a major Web3 technology company, has officially launched a suite of regulated retail derivatives in the UAE, becoming the first global exchange to do so under the country’s VARA framework.
This strategic rollout enables the UAE’s rapidly growing retail crypto user base to access futures, perpetual contracts, and options, which were previously exclusive to qualified investors.
According to a press release shared with TimesCrypto, retail users can now trade with up to 5x leverage within a secure and compliant framework. The offering is designed to empower individual investors with greater flexibility, enhanced risk control, and broader strategic capabilities across all market conditions.
This represents a pivotal moment for both OKX and the UAE’s broader digital asset ecosystem. By launching the first fully regulated retail derivatives offering in the UAE, we are both reinforcing our long-term commitment to responsible innovation and regulatory alignment, as well as listening to feedback from our [UAE] customers,” said Rifad Mahasneh, CEO, OKX MENA.
The launch comes amid the company’s strong regional expansion, following OKX’s receipt of a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in 2024.
Since securing the license, the company has been working closely with regulators and investing in Arabic-language customer support, educational tools, and regional Web3 collaborations.
Good regulation is not a constraint, it is an imperative within our industry,” added Mahasneh. “The UAE has created an environment where innovation and compliance go hand in hand. This has enabled OKX to introduce sophisticated products like derivatives to retail users in a responsible and secure manner.
What Are Retail Crypto Derivatives?
Retail crypto derivatives are financial products that let everyday traders make bets on the price movements of cryptocurrencies,like Bitcoin or Ethereum, without actually owning them.
With tools such as futures, perpetual contracts, and options, users can try to profit whether prices go up or down.
OKX’s new offering gives retail investors in the UAE access to these advanced trading tools under a regulated framework. Traders can use up to 5x leverage, meaning they can control larger positions with less capital. However, in most exchanges, users must first pass a suitability test to show they understand the risks.
These products can help traders hedge losses, manage risk, or take advantage of market volatility, all within rules designed to protect them.
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