Copper, a builder of blockchain-based infrastructure for secure and efficient collateral mobility across capital markets, announced that its U.S. entity, Copper Markets (US) Inc. (CMUS), a registered broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has been accepted as a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The milestone establishes Copper’s presence as a Qualified Custodian in the world’s largest capital market at a moment when U.S. institutions are moving decisively into digital assets.
As an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA member firm, Copper Markets (US) Inc. will offer qualified custody, staking, financing solutions, and OTC services as well as access to the ClearLoop Network, Copper’s custodian-agnostic platform for connecting derivative counterparties for pledging and moving crypto and tokenized assets as collateral. These capabilities form the foundation of Copper’s U.S. offering, providing institutional clients with flexible approaches to securely use and manage blockchain-based assets.
The decision to pursue FINRA’s broker-dealer registration reflects a strategic focus on building infrastructure for regulated capital markets, rather than solely on cryptocurrency trading or custody. A broker-dealer registration enables participation in securities markets and supports activities involving tokenized securities, capital raising, and institutional financial services, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
This strategy builds on Copper’s existing role in institutional markets through the ClearLoop Network, a collateral mobility platform that connects custodians, prime brokers, trading venues, and post-trade infrastructure providers. ClearLoop enables participating institutions to manage and mobilize collateral across connected venues, reducing operational fragmentation and supporting more efficient use of capital.
Amar Kuchinad, CEO, Copper said, “Institutions don’t adopt technology for technology’s sake. They adopt it when it makes markets work better. At Copper, we are focused on reducing friction, increasing efficiency, and automating how institutions operate across all financial markets. Establishing our regulated presence in the United States is an important step in bringing that infrastructure to the world’s largest capital market.”
The launch comes as digital assets become increasingly integrated with traditional capital markets, creating new infrastructure requirements for institutional participants. Through the ClearLoop Network, Copper Markets (Switzerland) AG currently connects institutional clients with trading venues including Coinbase International Exchange, Kraken MTF, Deribit, OKX, and Bybit, enabling near real-time settlement on Copper’s infrastructure.
Copper operates across key global markets through entities with jurisdiction-specific regulatory and registration statuses, including Copper Markets (Switzerland) AG, which holds a VQF registration in Switzerland, Copper Securities (ME) Limited, which holds an FSRA registration, Copper Markets (Liechtenstein) AG, which holds a TVTG registration, and Copper Markets U.S., a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and a FINRA member firm. As a FINRA member, CMUS is subject to ongoing supervision, examination, and conduct rules within the U.S. securities framework.
Copper’s US expansion advances its ambition to build the infrastructure for more connected, efficient, and resilient capital markets.
To learn more, visit Copper.co.