OKX tightens checks on gambling-related crypto deposits after $504 million US fine

OKX has started treating gambling-related crypto deposits as an AML review trigger, with account checks set to last at least 15 days. For high-risk operators and PSPs, the practical point is simple: funds can now be frozen or account access restricted while the exchange decides whether the flow is clean.

1. Star Xu, founder and CEO of OKX, said on X that deposits into OKX involving gambling assets will now trigger an anti-money-laundering check. The review period will last no less than 15 days.
2. While that procedure is underway, OKX can limit parts of an account’s functionality and even restrict access to funds. If the transfers are confirmed to be illegal, the user can lose access to the account entirely.
3. OKX is a major crypto exchange registered in the Seychelles, with a daily spot trading volume of up to $1.7 billion and a place in the top 10 largest platforms.
4. The exchange was fined $504 million in the US in February 2025 on money laundering suspicions. That makes the current policy shift more than a generic compliance note; it is part of an exchange operating under very real enforcement pressure.