Mutsamudu, Comoros, August 25, 2026 – MEXC Ventures and Blockworks Research have jointly released The Cross Asset Shift, a new industry report examining how crypto users in Asia are trading gold, stocks, and other traditional financial assets through CEXs.
The report explores why Futures have become the primary vehicle for cross-asset trading and why adoption is particularly strong in Asia. In the second quarter of 2026, average daily Stock Futures trading volume among MEXC users in Asia increased by 3,308% quarter over quarter. Meanwhile, 87.2% of Asian respondents said they planned to increase their TradFi trading through CEXs.
The research combines exchange market data from Blockworks Research, MEXC’s user survey, and MEXC platform data in Asia. The findings indicate that cross-asset trading is expanding globally, with Asian users showing particularly strong demand.
Key Takeaways
- Cross-asset demand is particularly strong among Asian users. MEXC’s user survey found that 62.6% of crypto-native respondents in Asia primarily trade precious metals through CEXs, while 87.2% plan to increase their TradFi trading.
- Futures have become the primary instrument for cross-asset trading. TradFi assets now account for more than 12% of Futures trading volume on CEXs. In the second quarter of 2026, average daily trading volume for MEXC Stock Futures in Asia increased by 3,308% quarter over quarter.
- Asia already has a well-established foundation for crypto adoption. The value of on-chain assets received across Asia-Pacific increased 69% year over year. Stablecoins further enable users to trade both crypto and traditional assets through a single account.
- CEXs allow users to respond more quickly to market-moving events. According to MEXC’s survey, 75.1% of Asian users had encountered a major market event while traditional markets were closed.
- Gold has emerged as one of the most established cross-asset use cases. Open interest in precious-metals Futures reached $1.98 billion in May 2026 and stood at $1.69 billion at the end of June, accounting for 36.2% of total open interest in TradFi perpetual futures.
- The next phase of growth will require deeper Spot markets, stronger user education, more robust safeguards for leveraged trading, and more reliable weekend liquidity. MEXC Ventures is focused on investment opportunities across tokenization, trading infrastructure, custody, and settlement to support the continued development of TradFi markets.
Cross-Asset Demand Is Particularly Strong in Asia
The report finds that a growing number of Asian users are trading traditional assets through CEXs. Among crypto-native respondents in Asia, 62.6% primarily trade precious metals through CEXs, the highest percentage among all surveyed regions. In addition, 87.2% of Asian respondents plan to increase their TradFi trading through CEXs.
This demand is already reflected in MEXC’s platform data from Southeast Asia. In the second quarter of 2026, the average daily number of users trading Stock Spot in Southeast Asia increased by 153% from the first quarter, while average daily trading volume rose by 348%. In the third quarter through August, the two metrics increased by a further 159% and 87%, respectively, compared with the second quarter.
Asia’s established digital finance ecosystem has also made it easier for users to expand from crypto into traditional assets. During the 12 months ending June 2025, the value of assets received on-chain across Asia-Pacific increased by 69% year over year. In 2025, Asia accounted for approximately 30% of global stablecoin activity. For users who already hold stablecoins and are familiar with CEXs, assets such as gold, stocks, and indices can be traded through the same account.
Futures Dominate Cross-Asset Trading as Stocks Emerge as a Key Growth Driver
Cross-asset trading activity is currently concentrated in Futures markets. RWA, foreign exchange, and tokenized stocks account for less than 2% of Spot trading volume on CEXs but more than 12% of Futures trading volume.
In July 2026, combined Futures trading volume across these three asset categories approached $400 billion, the highest monthly level recorded during the period covered by the report. Stock-related Futures drove most of the recent growth, with MEXC and BingX each accounting for approximately 20% of trading volume in this segment.
MEXC’s data reflects the same trend. In the second quarter of 2026, the average daily number of Stock Futures traders in Asia increased by 386% from the first quarter, while average daily trading volume rose by 3,308%. In Southeast Asia, the corresponding increases reached 399% and 6,648%.
Market interest is also shifting across assets. Gold was one of the first traditional assets to achieve meaningful scale on CEXs, with open interest in precious-metals futures reaching $1.98 billion in May 2026 and standing at $1.69 billion at the end of June. In June, open interest in U.S. Stock Futures surpassed that of precious metals. Gold remained one of the two largest asset categories, while stocks emerged as a key new source of growth.
Stronger Market Infrastructure Is Needed to Sustain Growth
The report identifies limited trading hours, high fees, and complex account-opening procedures as persistent challenges in traditional markets, which in turn increases the appeal of CEXs.
Among Asian respondents, 75.1% have experienced a major market event while traditional markets were closed, and 79% said they would consider using a crypto platform to trade gold or crude oil in similar circumstances. In addition, 53.8% considered traditional brokerage fees high, while 42.6% viewed account-opening procedures as complex.
Further development of the cross-asset market will require a balance between growth and risk management. The report recommends deeper Spot-market liquidity, stronger user education, more robust safeguards for leveraged trading, and improved price transparency and liquidity when traditional markets are closed.
Both survey responses and platform data point to a clear shift in Asia. As product coverage, liquidity, and risk-management capabilities continue to improve, the region is positioned to become a key market in the next phase of multi-asset services offered by CEXs.
Further details are available in the full report.
About MEXC Ventures
MEXC Ventures is a comprehensive fund under MEXC dedicated to driving innovation in the cryptocurrency sector through investments in L1/L2 ecosystems, strategic investments, M&A, and incubation. Upholding the principle of “Empowering Growth Through Synergy,” MEXC Ventures is committed to supporting innovative ideas and active builders in crypto. As an investor and supporter of TON and Aptos, MEXC Ventures looks forward to being at the forefront of TON and Aptos innovations and to actively partnering with builders to drive the ecosystem forward.
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