Bitget Introduces Trading Model That Keeps User Assets Outside the Exchange

Bitget has launched the Open Custody Network, a system designed to let eligible users execute trades without transferring their underlying assets into the exchange’s own custody. Under this arrangement, users can trade through Bitget while their assets remain with an independent bank or institutional custodian, according to coverage from CoinEdition and Crypto.news. Crypto.news says the service spans Bitget’s spot, margin and futures markets. Its report cites a company announcement dated November 5, while CoinEdition emphasizes that OCN changes the conventional process in which users must first deposit assets directly with an exchange before they can trade. The two outlets corroborate the central feature of the launch: custody of user assets can remain separate from the venue where trades are executed. They differ slightly in how they describe the available providers. Crypto.news specifically names independent banks and institutional custodians, whereas CoinEdition refers more generally to independent banks or trusted third-party custodians. No outlet provides conflicting launch figures or quantitative details.

OCN therefore introduces an alternative to the standard exchange-custody model. Instead of requiring eligible users to hold assets on Bitget to access its trading systems, the network allows those assets to remain with external parties while Bitget facilitates the orders. The available products reportedly include spot trading, margin trading and futures trading. The launch is aimed at users who want to retain assets with external providers while continuing to participate in Bitget markets. Eligibility criteria, the full roster of participating banks and custodians, and the operational terms of the arrangement are not detailed in the supplied summaries, leaving those elements outside the corroborated reporting.

The wider crypto market was broadly higher, with total market capitalization standing at $2.73 trillion. Bitcoin rose 1.65% over 24 hours, while the Fear & Greed index registered 50, which corresponds to a Neutral reading. No specific coin is linked directly to the OCN launch in the supplied coverage, so the broader market figures provide context rather than evidence of a token- or asset-specific reaction.

The development matters because it changes where assets are held relative to where they are traded. For eligible users and participating custody providers, the main items to monitor are the range of supported markets, which external institutions take part, and the practical eligibility and custody terms announced as OCN expands. The reported launch itself does not include figures indicating how many users or assets are expected to use the network.