KuCoin Institutional partnership with Ceffu raises institutional custody standards for digital assets

KuCoin is expanding its services for professional investors as the exchange deepens its focus on institutional custody through a new alliance with Ceffu.

How will the KuCoin and Ceffu partnership enhance institutional asset security?

KuCoin Institutional, the institutional arm of global crypto exchange KuCoin, has announced a strategic partnership with Ceffu, a leading institutional-grade custody and digital asset infrastructure provider. The deal marks a new milestone in KuCoin Institutional’s efforts to deliver secure and compliant solutions for professional investors worldwide, while also laying the groundwork for future product integrations.

Building on KuCoin Institutional‘s ongoing work to expand its custody ecosystem, the collaboration with Ceffu follows earlier agreements with licensed custodians. Together, the two platforms aim to provide institutions with the highest standards of institutional asset security, compliance assurance, and operational segregation, so investors can trade confidently while retaining direct control over their holdings.

“Institutional trust begins with infrastructure — the foundation of security, transparency, and compliance at every level,” said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. He added that the partnership with Ceffu strengthens KuCoin’s institutional custody framework and ensures clients can access global markets with robust, institutional-grade safeguards.

What is the strategic focus of this institutional crypto custody collaboration?

“Security isn’t a feature, it’s the foundation institutions build on,” said Ian Loh, CEO of Ceffu. He noted that Ceffu’s mission is to provide custody infrastructure that satisfies demanding benchmarks for security, compliance, and operational governance. By aligning with KuCoin, Ceffu expects to extend that trust-first infrastructure to a broader base of global institutional participants.

Through this partnership, KuCoin Institutional and Ceffu have already begun cooperating on new initiatives intended to upgrade the infrastructure underpinning institutional participation in digital assets. While specific product details will be announced at a later date, the collaboration is positioned to introduce new standards of security, compliance and governance, as well as operational oversight for institutions active in the digital asset markets.

Moreover, this strategic agreement supports KuCoin’s broader roadmap for institutional digital asset custody, with a focus on segregation of client assets, transparent risk controls, and scalable trading connectivity. That said, both parties emphasize that upcoming integrations will be rolled out in stages to maintain rigorous testing and regulatory alignment.

How does this deal fit into KuCoin Institutional’s broader growth strategy?

This partnership comes shortly after the launch of KuCoin Institutional, which was introduced as part of KuCoin’s brand upgrade positioning the exchange as a preferred venue for institutional investors worldwide. The initiative highlights KuCoin’s “trust first” philosophy, supported by enhanced services such as VIP trading desks, deeper liquidity channels, customized OTC solutions, and expanded custody partnerships.

Furthermore, the new alliance with Ceffu is designed to reinforce KuCoin’s institutional business as it builds a more comprehensive institutional crypto custody ecosystem. The exchange aims to collaborate with licensed partners to advance trust, innovation, and compliance across the global digital asset sector, addressing growing demand from funds, trading firms, and corporate treasuries.

Market participants seeking a combination of advanced trading tools and secure asset protection may see this development as a signal that the institutional custody crypto landscape is becoming more competitive. However, KuCoin and Ceffu argue that their partnership is focused less on competition and more on raising baseline security and compliance standards for the entire industry.

What services does KuCoin Institutional offer to professional clients?

KuCoin Institutional operates as the dedicated institutional business arm of KuCoin, serving professional investors, funds, and corporate clients with secure and efficient digital asset solutions. It integrates advanced trading infrastructure, broad liquidity access, and institutional-grade collaborations with external custodians to help bridge traditional finance with the digital asset economy.

The platform’s offering includes vip trading desk services, personalized account coverage, and connectivity to deep order books across major trading pairs. Moreover, KuCoin Institutional supports tailored OTC execution and risk management tools designed to match the needs of high-volume market participants operating under strict internal controls.

According to KuCoin, these services are intended to complement external custody arrangements, allowing institutions to manage trading strategies and operational flows without compromising on security or regulatory expectations. As of 2024, KuCoin continues to expand institutional relationships across Asia, Europe, and other key global hubs.

What makes Ceffu’s custody technology relevant for institutions?

Ceffu positions itself as a compliant, institutional-grade custody platform that delivers both custody and liquidity solutions certified under ISO 27001 & 27701 and attested for SOC2 Type 1 & Type 2. Its framework is built around multi-party computation, or mpc custody technology, combined with a customizable multi-approval scheme to match institutional governance structures.

Moreover, Ceffu’s bespoke solutions allow institutional clients to store and manage virtual assets in a way that aligns with internal policies and regulatory expectations. By offering flexible approval workflows and granular access controls, the platform helps mitigate operational risks without sacrificing responsiveness in fast-moving markets.

That said, Ceffu emphasizes that its role is not limited to technical custody; it also supports clients in navigating evolving regulatory requirements around institutional grade custody solutions in multiple jurisdictions.

Where can institutions find more information about this KuCoin Institutional partnership?

The companies plan to release further information on joint developments, including new security features and connectivity options, over the coming months.

In summary, the strategic alignment between KuCoin Institutional and Ceffu seeks to elevate institutional custody standards in the digital asset market. By combining KuCoin’s trading and liquidity infrastructure with Ceffu’s certified custody technology, the partnership aims to deliver a more robust, compliant, and scalable environment for global institutional investors engaging with cryptocurrencies and digital assets.