Binance announced on January 11 that it has launched a new private Indication of Interest (IOI) feature designed specifically for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals conducting large transactions of USD 200,000 or more.
Introducing #Binance Indication of Interest (IOI), the latest addition to our OTC & execution suite!
Designed for VIP & institutional users to discover off-book liquidity and reduce execution risk on large block trades.
Learn more ?https://t.co/IflL9gNxLT pic.twitter.com/6yifyiIxFS
— Binance VIP & Institutional (@BinanceVIP) December 11, 2025
The feature allows users to express interest in spot trades or crypto-backed lending without publicly revealing orders to the market, reducing visibility and protecting against price disruptions.
How Binance’s Private IOI Feature Works
The IOI service is operated through Binance’s OTC (over-the-counter) trading desk. Users submit detailed asset information and trade preferences to an internal team, which then identifies suitable counterparties.
The new tool supports:
Spot IOI
Loan IOI, including crypto-collateralized loans and fixed-rate loan arrangements
While IOIs carry no legal obligation and no upfront fee, Binance earns revenue through the spread when a matched trade is executed.
According to the exchange, the IOI mechanism helps solve one of the biggest problems institutional investors face: market impact. Large orders often cause sudden price swings or slippage, especially in mid-cap and low-liquidity tokens.
By matching buyers and sellers privately, Binance allows participants to execute block-size orders without influencing market prices.
Binance adds that the IOI system also addresses trading situations where traditional RFQ (Request for Quote) models fall short, including structured deals, block trades, and specialized lending requests.
Traditional Finance Mechanisms Enter Crypto Trading
Binance says it is the first major offshore crypto exchange to introduce a financial mechanism commonly used in traditional finance. The company also revealed plans to integrate the IOI feature via API, making it easier for institutions to automate and scale their trading workflows.
Market research suggests that roughly 75% of institutional investors plan to increase their crypto allocations, driving demand for more sophisticated trading tools—even as regulatory challenges persist globally.
The IOI process uses a two-stage structure:
A private expression of interest is shared only with Binance’s internal team and potential match candidates, preventing information leakage.
Final matching and negotiation occur once both sides confirm mutual interest.
This architecture enables efficient price discovery, protects trading intent, and aligns with how large institutions manage sensitive order flow in traditional markets.
As crypto markets continue to mature, Binance expects IOI functionality to become a key component of institutional-grade cryptocurrcneis trading.
