Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has formally joined the board of OKX, moving from an advisory role into the exchange’s top decision-making body as it works to expand its U.S. presence.
OKX founder and CEO Star Xu announced the appointment on July 20. Cuomo had been deeply involved in OKX’s U.S. business since 2023 as an adviser, where he provided guidance on regulation and institutional strategy. His move onto the board turns that relationship into a formal governance role.
Xu said, “Governor Cuomo has been an insightful voice for OKX for years, and his joining the board formalizes a relationship that has already shaped the way we approached entering the U.S. market. As we build OKX into the infrastructure layer for traditional finance and digital finance, we need people who truly understand how government, institutions, and markets work. That is the value he brings.”
Cuomo, speaking in an interview with Fox News, said financial markets are evolving and that blockchain and tokenization have the potential to make markets more efficient. He said that was why he joined the OKX board to help build financial infrastructure.
Cuomo’s public career spanned federal and New York state government
Andrew Mark Cuomo was born in New York City in 1957 into an Italian American family. His father, Mario Cuomo, also served as governor of New York. Cuomo studied at Fordham University and Albany Law School, worked on his father’s campaigns early in his career, and later served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan.
His government career covered several senior posts. From 1993 to 1997, he served in the Clinton administration as assistant secretary for community planning and development at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He then became secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1997 to 2001. From 2007 to 2010, he was elected New York attorney general. On Jan. 1, 2011, he became New York’s 56th governor and went on to win a second term, serving until 2021.
During his time as governor, Cuomo pushed through same-sex marriage legalization, a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $15, paid family leave, the Child Victims Act, and several large infrastructure projects. Those projects included the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Hall redevelopment, the Tappan Zee Bridge reconstruction, and the LaGuardia Airport upgrade. In the early stage of the pandemic, his daily briefings drew national attention.
His resignation in 2021 remained a major part of the public record
Cuomo’s political career turned sharply in 2021. New York Attorney General Letitia James released an independent investigative report that found Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women, including through unwanted physical contact and inappropriate comments, and that retaliation had also taken place. Facing impeachment pressure and calls to resign from multiple figures, including then-President Joe Biden, Cuomo announced on Aug. 10 that he would step down and officially left office on Aug. 23.
Most of the related criminal investigations later did not result in charges. Cuomo consistently denied intentional misconduct and said some of his actions or remarks had been misunderstood or reflected outdated behavior.
After resigning, he worked in advisory roles, public affairs, and paid speaking engagements. In 2025, he ran for mayor of New York City. After losing the Democratic primary, he continued his campaign as an independent and ultimately was not elected. At the same time, he had already been deeply involved in OKX matters since 2023, and in June 2026 he made clear that he would put his main focus on the joint venture between ICE and OKX.
Why the board seat matters for OKX now
The timing lines up with OKX’s push to strengthen its compliance position and deepen ties with traditional financial institutions in the United States.
In March, Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, made a strategic equity investment in OKX at a valuation of about $25 billion. On June 22, the two sides announced a 50-50 joint venture aimed at building infrastructure for tokenized financial products. Under that plan, OKX users would have a chance to access ICE futures and tokenized equity products tied to the NYSE. Cuomo was named one of the venture’s co-chairs.
His appointment to the OKX board on July 20 extends that line of cooperation from a project structure into the level of corporate governance. An adviser can offer recommendations. A director can take part directly in oversight and major decisions.
That distinction matters because OKX’s relationship with U.S. regulators had already been under strain. On Feb. 24, 2025, OKX affiliate Aux Cayes Fintech admitted in federal court in the Southern District of New York that it had violated the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering requirements. It agreed to pay more than $504 million in penalties and forfeiture, made up of about $420.3 million in forfeiture and about $84.4 million in criminal penalties, and to remain under the supervision of an external compliance consultant through February 2027.
According to the investigation described in the source material, the platform had publicly barred U.S. users but still served a large number of American retail and institutional clients, while its AML and KYC controls showed clear shortcomings. After that settlement was completed, OKX announced around April 2025 that it would restart its U.S. business expansion. Cuomo’s path from outside adviser to board member took shape during that period.
Questions remain around scope, compensation, and next steps
The appointment has also drawn discussion because Cuomo’s past remains controversial. OKX, in its formal announcement, highlighted his leadership experience and his understanding of how governments, institutions, and markets think and operate.
At the industry level, large crypto platforms are shifting their priorities. Trading volume and product development still matter, but licensing, institutional trust, political communication, and integration with traditional finance are taking on more weight in long-term competition. The source article also noted OKX’s broader licensing footprint and its monthly proof-of-reserves disclosures, mentioning the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the European Economic Area, Singapore, and Australia.
OKX has not disclosed Cuomo’s specific board responsibilities, the length of his term, or compensation details. The licensing application progress for the ICE-OKX joint venture and the launch timing for its first tokenized products are the next items to watch.