OKX CEO Star Xu Advocates Self-Custody at TOKEN2049

On October 1, 2025, OKX CEO Star Xu, delivered a keynote at the Token2049 Summit in Singapore, emphasizing self-custody as the future of blockchain technology.

Xu’s speech suggests a shift toward user-driven finance, impacting asset security, onchain solutions, and institutional interest in decentralized frameworks.

User Autonomy Emphasized in TOKEN2049 Keynote

Star Xu’s keynote at TOKEN2049 emphasized the importance of self-custody in blockchain finance. He argued that users should have the means to verify a DApp’s reserves and performance independently. Xu highlighted the shift towards transparency and autonomy, indicating a major push for self-custodial solutions. These advancements aim to allow users to manage their finances without traditional financial institutions.

Xu stated, “True autonomy does not imply non-compliance,” suggesting a balance between user control and regulatory standards. Feedback among developers has surged, focusing on integrating wallet recovery protocols and blockchain analytics. Institutional interest is anticipated to rise, particularly in Asia, owing to this user-centric financial model.

Self-Custody Trends Positively Influencing ETH Prices

Did you know? TOKEN2049 has historically sparked increased engagement with decentralized systems, evident from previous boosts in wallet adoption and DEX trades.

Ethereum (ETH) remains a focus of self-custody adoption. As of 05:55 UTC on October 1, 2025, its price stands at $4,149.32, with a market cap exceeding $500.84 billion. Despite a 0.83% dip over 24 hours, ETH saw a 60.30% rise over the past 90 days, reflecting market interest in onchain identity and DeFi innovations (CoinMarketCap).

The Coincu research team observes that financial autonomy could drive innovation in onchain tools and protocols. With historical trends favoring open-source and decentralized networks, there’s anticipation of heightened scrutiny on governance token reserves and compliance as these markets evolve.

Star Xu, Founder & CEO of OKX, insightfully stated, “Everything on chain, self-custody is the future. The next era of finance is not in your role, but in your wallet.”