Oku Markets
Oku Markets is a London-based multi-agency currency broker, founded in 2021, that provides FX trading, international payments, currency risk management, and trade finance to SMEs, corporates, and private clients via a panel of FCA-regulated partner firms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Oku Markets does
Oku Markets Limited is a London-headquartered, founder-owned multi-agency currency broker founded in 2021 by Harry Mills, providing foreign exchange, international payments, currency risk management, and trade finance to UK and European SMEs, corporates, and private clients. The company operates through a panel of five FCA-regulated partner firms — Currency Cloud, Ebury, Alt21, Sciopay, and Equals Money — delivering regulated payments, e-money, FX execution, and options services without holding its own FCA authorisation, with clients accessing the platform via partner-operated login portals. Core products include multi-currency accounts in the client's own name (35+ local collection accounts), payments to 200+ countries via SWIFT and local clearing, forward contracts, FX options, automated market orders, and a £3m trade finance facility repayable over up to 150 days, supplemented by a free Currency Audit service used as the primary top-of-funnel conversion mechanism.
Revenue is generated through transparent, upfront-agreed FX margins (capped at 0.50% for private clients depending on annual volume), professional services fees for risk-management consulting, and trade finance margin. The go-to-market is sales-led with dedicated account managers and dealers supported by inside sales and self-serve digital onboarding, and is reinforced by content marketing through a daily FX newsletter, educational resources, and a 2024/25 partnership with AFC Wimbledon as Official Currency Management Partner. The company is privately held, founder-owned, has disclosed no external funding, and operates with a 1–10 person team across London and Dublin.
Oku Markets firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oku Markets
- Legal name
- Oku Markets Limited
- Website
- https://okumarkets.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Oku Markets is a London-based multi-agency currency broker, founded in 2021, that provides FX trading, international payments, currency risk management, and trade finance to SMEs, corporates, and private clients via a panel of FCA-regulated partner firms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oku Markets industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foreign Exchange and Currency Management Services
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (523160)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- FX Electronic Trading Platforms (Spot/Forwards/Swaps) (FSAFANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- FX Matching & Aggregation Venues (Liquidity Aggregators) (FSAFADAH), FX Derivatives (Forwards, Options, NDFs) (FSACADAC), Embedded FX & Cross-Border Treasury (FSAGALAG)
Keywords
Where Oku Markets is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Oku Markets business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- FX Transaction Fees / Margin on Exchange Rates: Revenue generated through fixed, transparent markups (margins) on FX exchange rates. The margin is agreed upfront based on the client's trading volume and needs. The company does not charge separate invoice fees or hidden costs. For personal clients, margins are capped at 0.50% depending on annual trading volume.
- Risk Management and Consulting Services: Fees associated with advanced FX risk management services including strategy formulation, performance reporting, derivatives valuations, transaction cost analysis, and FX policy management for corporate clients.
- Trade Finance: Trade finance facility providing credit for international goods and services. No setup or maintenance fees; pay-as-you-go structure. Clients can access up to £3m facility to pay supplier invoices in supplier's local currency, repaying within up to 150 days.
- FX Options Services: FX options hedging solutions delivered in partnership with Alt21 (FCA-regulated). Options strategies include vanilla options and multi-leg structured options, with upfront non-refundable premiums charged to buyers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Personal/Private Clients - Fixed margin up to 0.50% depending on annual trading volume |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Business Clients - Volume-based transparent pricing |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Currency Audit - Free service |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Trade Finance - No setup/maintenance fees, pay-as-you-go |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Oku Markets product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oku Markets is a multi-agency foreign exchange and currency management broker that delivers FX trading (spot, swaps, forwards, options in 130+ currencies), international payments to 200+ countries, and consultative currency risk management to businesses and private clients. Services are executed through a panel of FCA-regulated partner firms (Currency Cloud, Ebury, Alt21, Sciopay, Equals Money), with bespoke FX policy formulation, forward and options hedging, and trade finance up to £3 million.
Product overview
Oku Markets is a multi-agency currency broker offering a unified platform of FX and currency management services for businesses and private clients. The core product suite spans transactional FX (currency accounts, international payments, market orders), risk management (forward contracts, FX options), and trade finance, all delivered through a panel of regulated partner firms (Currency Cloud, Alt21, Ebury, Sciopay, Equals Money). Supplementary services include a free currency audit, market commentary newsletters, and educational resources. The platform is accessible online 24/7 via partner-operated portals, supplemented by dedicated dealer support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Okuprivate: Private client FX services for individuals
Products and services
- Currency Accounts Multi-currency collection accounts held in the client's own name (not Oku Markets'), with unique IBAN details enabling receipt of funds in 35+ currencies and 24/7 online management of currency balances via partner platforms.
- International Payments Global payment and transfer services enabling clients to send money to 200+ countries via SWIFT or local clearing, with MT103 reporting, SWIFT GPI tracking, mass pay via file upload, and two-factor authentication controls.
- FX Risk Management Consultative currency risk management service for corporate clients covering goal-setting, risk quantification, currency strategy formulation, and ongoing trade execution. Includes transaction, economic, and translation risk exposure analysis, statistical analysis, hedging strategy back-testing, and random walk analysis.
- Forward Contracts FX hedging instruments allowing clients to lock in exchange rates for future settlement dates, protecting against currency volatility for up to five years. Includes Fixed Forward, Open Forward, and Window Forward variants.
- FX Options Currency options hedging solutions providing bespoke downside protection with upside participation, delivered in partnership with Alt21. Includes Vanilla Options and Multi-Leg Structured Options, with upfront non-refundable premiums charged to buyers.
- Market Orders (FX Orders) Automated FX order types including Limit Order, Stop Loss Order, and OCO (One Cancels Other) Order monitored 24 hours a day, triggered when specified exchange rate levels are reached, with alerts on trigger.
- Trade Finance Flexible credit facility enabling clients to finance international goods and services by paying supplier invoices in the supplier's local currency, with repayment up to 150 days later in domestic currency. Provided via Ebury Partners UK Limited, with limits up to £3 million and no minimum usage.
- Currency Audit Free currency health check service that transforms client spreadsheet data into professional, board-ready reports including transaction cost analysis, currency risk quantification, and improvement recommendations. No account opening required.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced FX costs by 75% for Global Recruitment Group client
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Oku Markets
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Oku Markets technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature6 records
Oku Markets partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- AFC WimbledonflagshipOfficial Sponsor and Currency Management Partner for the 2024/25 season. Beyond sponsorship, the partnership includes community building with AFC Wimbledon Foundation and Dons Local Action Group. A portion of profits from every transaction with AFCW-related clients is shared with the club. Special client offers for AFCW fans including 10% better exchange rates for private clients and free business currency audits.
- Currency Cloud (The Currency Cloud Limited)coreCurrency Cloud is a Visa-owned payments infrastructure business providing payment and e-money services (Non-MiFID) to Oku Markets clients. FCA-authorised under Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900199). For EEA clients, services are provided by CurrencyCloud B.V. regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank (Relation Number: R142701). US payments handled by Visa Global Services Inc. (VGSI).
- Alt21 LimitedcoreOku Markets is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Alt21, an FCA-regulated firm (FRN: 783837) authorised to carry on MiFID activities. Alt21 provides FX options trading solutions and foreign exchange and payment services, working closely with Oku Markets to deliver bespoke currency hedging strategies combining market expertise with innovative technology.
- Ebury Partners UK LimitedcoreEbury (primarily owned by Banco Santander) provides payment and foreign currency exchange services for Oku Markets. Oku Markets is partnered with Ebury as a Programme Manager. Ebury is FCA-authorised as an Electronic Money Institution (FRN: 900797). Also provides Trade Finance solutions for Oku Markets clients up to £3m.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oku Markets competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OFX: OFX is a publicly-listed global FX and payments broker targeting SMEs and individuals with spot, forwards, options, and international payments. Closely matches Oku's product set, customer profile (mid-market corporates and private clients), and pricing-driven GTM.
- Moneycorp: Moneycorp is a UK-based FX and international payments specialist serving private clients and SMEs with currency accounts, transfers, forwards, and options. Directly comparable in customer segment, geography (UK-led), and product breadth.
- TorFX: TorFX is a UK-based FX broker and payments provider serving individuals and SMEs with personal account management, transparent margins, and forward contracts. Directly comparable relationship-led, mid-market positioning.
- Kantox: Kantox is a London-headquartered FX risk management and payments platform for SMEs and mid-market corporates, offering currency hedging, multi-currency accounts, and dynamic hedging technology. Directly comparable in SME-focused FX risk management.
- Wise (formerly TransferWise): Wise is a global cross-border payments platform serving individuals and businesses with mid-market FX rates, multi-currency accounts, and mass payouts. Overlaps with Oku's international payments and currency accounts products with a much larger scale and consumer brand.
- Revolut Business: Revolut Business offers multi-currency accounts, international payments, and FX services to SMEs and corporates via a mobile-first platform. Comparable in serving SMEs with international payment needs, though its product breadth and user base are vastly larger.
- Ebury Partners: Ebury Partners is a Santander-owned FX and trade finance provider serving SMEs with payments, hedging, and trade finance. Oku is both an Ebury programme manager and a direct competitor in the SME FX space with comparable product offerings.
- Equals Money (formerly FairFX): Equals Money is a UK-listed payments and FX platform offering multi-currency accounts, prepaid cards, and international payments for businesses and consumers. Comparable in FX and payments for SMEs; also one of Oku's underlying partner firms.
- Halo Financial: Halo Financial is a London-based FX broker serving private clients and SMEs with personal account management and forward contracts. Comparable in relationship-driven FX brokerage for UK SMEs and individuals.
Broad incumbents
- Western Union Business Solutions: Western Union Business Solutions is a large incumbent FX and cross-border payments provider serving mid-market and enterprise clients with a wide product portfolio. Broader and more established than Oku, but overlapping in target customers and product set.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Oku Markets social profiles
Digital presenceOku Markets compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Oku Markets financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oku Markets leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Oku Markets funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oku Markets M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oku Markets
What does Oku Markets do?
Oku Markets is a multi-agency foreign exchange and currency management broker that delivers FX trading (spot, swaps, forwards, options in 130+ currencies), international payments to 200+ countries, and consultative currency risk management to businesses and private clients. Services are executed through a panel of FCA-regulated partner firms (Currency Cloud, Ebury, Alt21, Sciopay, Equals Money), with bespoke FX policy formulation, forward and options hedging, and trade finance up to £3 million.
Is Oku Markets a public or private company?
Oku Markets is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Oku Markets founded?
Oku Markets was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Oku Markets based?
Oku Markets is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Oku Markets make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. FX Transaction Fees / Margin on Exchange Rates are the primary driver. The others are risk Management and Consulting Services, trade Finance and FX Options Services.
Who are Oku Markets's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OFX, Moneycorp, TorFX, Kantox, Wise (formerly TransferWise), Revolut Business, Ebury Partners, Equals Money (formerly FairFX) and Halo Financial. Western Union Business Solutions is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Oku Markets have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oku Markets.
What industry is Oku Markets in?
Oku Markets's product category is Foreign Exchange and Currency Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFANAC, FX Electronic Trading Platforms (Spot/Forwards/Swaps), with a secondary code of FSAFADAH, FX Matching & Aggregation Venues (Liquidity Aggregators). Its NAICS code is 5231 and its SIC code is 6200.