DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting its strategic business direction, STARTRADER seals a deal with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and becomes the league's Official Partner, which marks a significant milestone in the company's continued growth and expansion.
Fans will see STARTRADER's brand integrated across key NBA touchpoints. From in-arena backdrops to broadcast-visible placements and select league media platforms, STARTRADER will benefit from high-impact visibility as audiences experience year-round storytelling across digital, broadcast, and select live events. These activations strengthen the brand's global presence and reinforce its innovative narrative, in addition to joint Social Impact initiatives between the NBA and STARTRADER.
"This collaboration reflects the direction STARTRADER is taking as a global brand," said Mr. Peter Karsten, CEO of STARTRADER. "Aligning with the NBA reinforces the trust placed in our brand and supports our vision of operating on an international stage alongside institutions that share a commitment to long-term growth."
"We look forward to working closely with STARTRADER as we continue to grow basketball and the NBA's presence across the Middle East," said NBA Head of Middle East Strategy & Development, David Watts. "The region is a key priority for the league, and this cooperation reflects our ambition to work with brands that share our commitment to engaging fans using the latest technological innovations."
The collaboration aligns with STARTRADER's repositioning, 'Built on Trust, Driven by Growth.' It reflects the growth that the brand has achieved as it continues to cooperate with global-level institutions that carry long-standing influence across cultures and markets.
At the core of this direction is STARTRADER's focus on making global trading accessible and trusted, and empowering principles that mirror the NBA's role in connecting hundreds of millions of fans worldwide around the game of basketball. Through transparent access, advanced tools, and trusted support, STARTRADER builds a trading environment that enables traders and partners to grow with confidence.
As the NBA celebrates its 80th season, STARTRADER remains committed to the strong foundations it has built over the years to support long-term growth in an evolving financial landscape. The collaboration signals STARTRADER's continued evolution as a global brand operating on the world stage.
ABOUT STARTRADER
As a globally leading broker, STARTRADER provides a transparent trading environment and exceptional services to clients in over 200 regions worldwide. We offer a wide range of trading products, including forex, precious metals, stocks, indices, commodities, and ETFs, along with diverse platforms. Additionally, we showcase our comprehensive service capabilities by providing tailored liquidity solutions for institutional clients, securing a unique position in the industry. STARTRADER is regulated by five top-tier authorities—SCA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA, and FSC—ensuring the highest standards of security and trust for our clients. https://www.startrader.com/
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STARTRADER Begins 2026 as Official Partner of the NBA
SEOUL, South Korea, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Upbit, a world-class digital asset exchange operated by Dunamu Inc., today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indonesia Crypto Exchange (ICEx), a licensed digital asset bourse in Indonesia. The MOU establishes a strategic framework for technical and operational collaboration aimed at accelerating the development of Indonesia's regulated crypto ecosystem and supporting the growth of a sustainable, well-governed market.
The partnership was marked by a high-level summit held at Upbit's Seoul headquarters, where CEO Kyoungsuk Oh hosted a senior Indonesian delegation comprising high-ranking government officials, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce Indonesia, and key industry players to discuss the evolution of regulated digital finance.
The inclusion of the Chamber of Commerce underscores the mission to integrate it into the broader Indonesian commercial landscape. During the meetings, Upbit's leadership and Kadin representatives discussed future-forward plans to bridge Korean technological prowess with Indonesian market potential, ensuring that the digital asset roadmap aligns with the country's national economic interests and private sector growth.
Building a Regulated Global Standard
Under this strategic framework, Upbit will support the growth of Indonesia's digital asset ecosystem by providing core platform technology and operational expertise to build and operate a resilient, compliant trading venue, including key exchange infrastructure such as matching, risk management, and market operations.
The partnership will also explore innovation in areas such as custody solutions while strengthening regulatory technology to enhance oversight, compliance, and reporting.
ICEx and Upbit have aligned as strategic partners to leverage Upbit's proven track record as South Korea's leading exchange and its global reputation for maintaining the highest standards in investor protection and regulatory compliance.
Expanding Upbit's Regional Footprint
Upbit is positioning itself as a critical infrastructure partner across Asia, supporting the development of secure, transparent, and trusted digital asset market frameworks.
This collaboration marks another milestone in Upbit's expanding role as a key driver of digital asset development across the region. The company has previously hosted high-level delegations from Vietnam—including senior government and financial leaders such as the Minister of National Defense, Minister of Finance, Chairperson of the State Securities Commission, and the Chairman of Military Bank—to showcase its advanced digital asset exchange infrastructure.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to fostering well-regulated digital asset ecosystems globally," said Kyoungsuk Oh, CEO of Dunamu, operator of Upbit. "By working closely with ICEx, we aim to share the platform technology and operational expertise that have established Upbit as a market leader in Asia and strengthen the foundational infrastructure of Indonesia's digital asset sector."
A New Era for Indonesian Digital Finance
ICEx operates as an important part of Indonesia's regulated digital asset ecosystem under the supervision of the Financial Services Authority (OJK). Established in line with Indonesia's three-layer regulatory framework for digital asset transactions, comprising a licensed bourse, central clearinghouse, and supporting an integrated market structure within the country's regulated framework. Upbit Indonesia is among its founding shareholders, alongside strategic investors including some of Indonesia's largest conglomerates and global exchanges.
"Partnering with Upbit brings invaluable global expertise to our local ecosystem," said Pang Xue Kai, CEO of ICEx Group. "Upbit's leadership in compliance and technology was a decisive factor for us. We believe this collaboration will contribute to the development of a more secure and trusted market environment in Indonesia."
Through this partnership, Upbit aims to support ICEx in laying the groundwork for a next-generation digital asset ecosystem in Indonesia while contributing to the broader evolution of regulated crypto markets across the region.
The parties formally announced the MOU at the Korea–Indonesia Business Partnership for Resilient Growth Forum on April 1st, 2026, a landmark bilateral event, attended by ministers and high-ranking officials from both countries. The forum featured the signing of MOUs by major companies from both countries across a range of sectors. The MOU between Upbit and ICEx underscored the strategic and institutional significance of the bilateral collaboration in digital finance innovation.
About Upbit
Upbit is a leading digital asset exchange headquartered in South Korea and operated by Dunamu Inc., a fintech company focused on building innovative financial services powered by blockchain technology. Since its launch in 2017, Upbit has become one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally by trading volume, offering a wide range of digital assets and trading pairs.
Upbit provides a secure and user-friendly platform for trading, investing, and managing digital assets. The company prioritizes transparency, compliance, and investor protection, adopting industry-leading security practices.
Through continuous innovation and strategic partnerships, Upbit aims to drive the adoption of blockchain technology and contribute to a more accessible and efficient financial ecosystem.
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Upbit and ICEx Sign Strategic MOU to Fortify Indonesia's Digital Asset Infrastructure
