In bear or sideways markets, reducing trading frequency and focusing on financial products can be a smart strategy. Many investors are turning to exchange-based financial tools to generate returns while minimizing risk. Among these, OKX’s structured financial products stand out for their flexibility, accessibility, and innovative design. This guide breaks down three key offerings—Shark Fin, Dual Investment, and Snowball—in clear, practical terms to help you make informed decisions.
What Are Structured Financial Products?
Structured financial products are hybrid investment instruments that combine traditional assets (like stablecoins or cryptocurrencies) with derivatives to create customized return profiles. These products are designed to meet specific risk-return preferences, often offering capital protection, yield enhancement, or market exposure with capped risk.
On OKX, structured products allow users to earn returns based on price movements of major cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH, without requiring active trading. The three main types available are:
- Shark Fin (Shark Fin Products)
- Dual Investment (formerly "Dual Currency Win")
- Snowball (Auto-Callable Structured Notes)
Each serves different investor needs—from conservative savers to those seeking higher yields through directional bets.
Shark Fin: Low Risk, Guaranteed Floor Returns
The Shark Fin product is ideal for investors looking for low-risk, short-term gains with a guaranteed minimum return. It's particularly effective in volatile or uncertain markets.
✅ Key Features
- Guaranteed minimum yield regardless of market movement
- High potential upside if price stays within a target range
- Short investment cycles: 3-day and 7-day options
- Low entry barrier: Only 10 USDT required
🔐 How the Guaranteed Return Works
Behind the scenes, OKX allocates funds into low-risk instruments to ensure a floor yield—typically between 3%–5% annualized. This means even if your market prediction is wrong, you still earn a baseline return.
For example:
A 3-day Shark Fin product offers a 3.5% annualized floor yield. Whether you choose "Bullish" or "Bearish," this base return is locked in.
This isn’t just “capital protection”—it’s capital growth protection, making it more attractive than traditional savings.
📈 High-Yield Opportunity via Barrier Options
The upside comes from European barrier options. Your return increases if the asset price ends within a predefined "shark fin" range at maturity.
Bullish Shark Fin (e.g., BTC)
- Knock-in price: Lower bound (e.g., $25,800)
- Knock-out price: Upper bound (e.g., $29,600)
If BTC closes between these levels, your yield scales linearly:
Yield = [(Close Price - Lower Bound) / (Upper Bound - Lower Bound)] × (Max Yield - Min Yield) + Min YieldExample:
BTC closes at $29,000 → Yield ≈ 7.61% annualized
Outside the range? You still get the 3.5% floor yield.
Bearish Shark Fin
- Knock-in price: Upper bound
- Knock-out price: Lower bound
Lower closing prices within the range generate higher yields. For instance, if BTC drops to $22,000 within the target band, returns could reach 8.12% annualized.
👉 Discover how to earn guaranteed yields even when the market is flat or falling.
⏱️ Investment Periods & Auto-Renewal
- 3-day products: Released every Monday, settle Thursday
- 7-day products: Released every Thursday, settle the following Friday
- Auto-renewal available for 7-day versions → ideal for passive investors
You can chain multiple cycles together for exposure over 1–2 weeks without manual reinvestment.
🧾 Participation Requirements
- Minimum: 10 USDT
- Weekly cap per account: 1,500,000 USDT
Perfect for both small savers and institutional participants.
Dual Investment: Earn Yield by Setting Target Prices
Dual Investment (formerly "Dual Currency Win") lets you earn yield by effectively selling options with pre-set buy or sell prices.
🔁 Two Directions: “High Sell” and “Low Buy”
| Type | Asset Used | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| High Sell | Crypto (BTC, ETH, etc.) | Sell at a target price |
| Low Buy | USDT | Buy crypto at a discount |
You earn a fixed yield whether the target is hit or not.
💡 Example: High Sell ARB at $0.95
- Invest: 1,000 ARB
- Yield: 1.52% (≈22.55% annualized)
At maturity:
- If ARB < $0.95 → Keep 1,015.2 ARB
- If ARB ≥ $0.95 → Receive **964.44 USDT** ($0.95 × 1,000 × 1.0152)
You profit either way—but with different outcomes based on price action.
🔄 Low Buy Example: Buy ARB at $0.85
- Invest: 1,000 USDT
- Yield: 1.7% (≈25.31% annualized)
At maturity:
- If ARB > $0.85 → Get back 1,017 USDT
- If ARB ≤ $0.85 → Receive 1,196.47 ARB
You get more tokens if the price drops—ideal for accumulation strategies.
⚖️ How It Works: Option Selling Mechanism
When you participate, you're essentially writing an option:
- In “High Sell,” you agree to sell at the target price
- In “Low Buy,” you commit to buying at the target price
Since you take on obligation (not rights), you’re compensated with yield—the core source of returns.
🔍 Advantages Over Alternatives
| Feature | Dual Investment | Leveraged Trading | Limit Orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| No liquidation risk | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ignores intraday swings | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Earns yield | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| No trading fees | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Unlike leveraged positions, Dual Investment won’t get stopped out due to volatility—only the final price matters.
👉 Set your own buy/sell targets and earn yield automatically—no trading needed.
Snowball: For High-Net-Worth Investors
The Snowball product is a more advanced structured note using American-style auto-callable options, suitable for large-capacity investors.
🎯 Key Details
- Available for BTC only
- Two variants: Bullish (invest USDT) and Bearish (invest BTC)
Minimum investment:
- Bullish: 100,000 USDT
- Bearish: 5 BTC
- Term: 28 days
Uses knock-in and knock-out levels to determine payout scenarios.
📊 Payout Scenarios (Bullish Version)
- No knock-in or knock-out: Max yield →
Principal × (1 + Annualized Rate × 28/365) - Knock-out triggered early: Partial yield based on holding days
- Knock-in hit, no knock-out, final price > initial: Full principal returned (USDT)
- Knock-in hit, no knock-out, final price < initial: Receive BTC equivalent → risk of loss
Similar logic applies to bearish version with reversed triggers.
While potentially high-reward, Snowball carries downside risk if knock-in occurs and price drops sharply.
Product Comparison & Strategic Use
| Product | Risk Level | Best For | Min Investment | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Fin | Low | Passive income, short-term hold | 10 USDT | High |
| Dual Investment | Medium | Active traders, accumulators | Varies | Medium |
| Snowball | High | Institutional investors | 100K USDT / 5 BTC | Low |
🧠 Smart Strategy: Hedge with Dual Shark Fin Bets
You can reduce directional risk by investing equally in both bullish and bearish Shark Fin products.
Example:
- BTC spot: $25,750
- Allocate 50% to Bullish ($25,800–$29,600 range)
- Allocate 50% to Bearish ($21,800–$25,700 range)
Outcomes:
- If BTC stays within either range → One side earns high yield, other gets floor yield
- Only if BTC stays flat or moves slightly outside both ranges → Both earn floor yield (~3.5%)
This strategy captures volatility while ensuring returns in any scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Are OKX structured products safe?
While not principal-guaranteed in all cases, products like Shark Fin offer floor yields, significantly reducing downside risk. Always understand the payout mechanics before investing.
Q2: Can I withdraw early?
Most structured products are locked until maturity. Early redemption is generally not supported except for select Dual Investment terms.
Q3: How are returns calculated?
Returns depend on final asset prices relative to strike/knock levels. Formulas vary by product type but are transparently displayed before purchase.
Q4: Is KYC required?
Yes, you must complete identity verification on OKX to access structured financial products.
Q5: Are there fees?
No direct fees. The cost is embedded in the pricing model—the yield you see is net of all charges.
Q6: Can I use borrowed funds?
Not recommended. These are not leveraged products; using loans increases personal risk exposure.
Final Thoughts
In uncertain markets, structured financial products provide a compelling alternative to idle holdings or risky speculation. Among OKX’s offerings:
- Shark Fin stands out for safety and simplicity
- Dual Investment suits those with price targets and accumulation plans
- Snowball caters to sophisticated investors with large capital
With low barriers to entry and clear payoff structures, tools like Shark Fin allow everyday users to earn consistent yields—whether the market goes up, down, or nowhere at all.
👉 Start earning structured yields with as little as 10 USDT today.