OKX suspends DEX aggregator amid MiCA compliance concerns

OKX Exchange has temporarily suspended its DEX aggregator service, reportedly due to regulatory pressure from the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, according to Wu Blockchain on X. The move follows an investigation into OKX Web3 wallet services, after reports suggested North Korean hackers used them to launder $100 million stolen from Bybit Exchange. MiCA requires crypto asset service providers (CASPs) operating in the EU to obtain a license. Since OKX DEX aggregates liquidity and facilitates trades, it may fall under MiCA’s regulatory scope despite not being a fully decentralized platform. Analysts suggest the suspension aims to protect OKX’s newly acquired MiCA license, as non-compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) measures could lead to regulatory penalties. The incident highlights growing compliance challenges for on-chain wallets as global regulations tighten.