Circle expands USDC trading on OKX across spot, margin and futures

Circle and OKX announced an expanded partnership that broadens USDC liquidity and trading access on the exchange. The new arrangement adds USDC‑denominated markets on spot, margin and futures products, giving eligible OKX users more ways to trade with the stablecoin.

USDC Margin Growth Program

OKX launched a USDC Margin Growth Program on September 1. Qualifying users who hold at least 20,000 USDC for 17 consecutive days and generate over 1,000 USDC in single‑side trading volume on eligible USDC pairs can receive a monthly reward of 100 USDC, funded by Circle. Up to 4,000 users may qualify each month on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and rewards are settled within seven days after month‑end.

On‑chain integration via X Layer

In August, Circle introduced native USDC and its Cross‑Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) to OKX’s X Layer, an Ethereum‑compatible layer‑2 network. The integration allows developers and businesses to mint and redeem USDC directly on X Layer, bypassing traditional bridges. At launch, native USDC was supported on 36 networks, while CCTP connected 26 blockchains.

Regional variations and recent activity

OKX’s European operations, licensed under MiCA, added a USDT‑to‑USDC conversion route for customers in 30 EU/EEA countries, while maintaining USDC and USDG as supported stablecoins. A temporary pause on USDC deposits and withdrawals via Solana occurred in July for wallet maintenance, but trading services remained active.

Broader USDC ecosystem

Circle continues to deepen USDC integration with other platforms, including a technical partnership with Hyperliquid and a renewed three‑year agreement with Coinbase. At the end of Q2, USDC circulation reached $73.3 billion, a 19 % year‑over‑year increase, with roughly 30 % held on Coinbase.