Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced the appointment of SB Seker as the new head of its Asia Pacific operations. This leadership change comes after the departure of Vishal Sacheendran, who left the company in July to join BitPanda.
Seker brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as a senior vice president at Crypto.com. His expertise encompasses global product development, along with managing legal and regulatory matters across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia regions. His extensive background in financial services and familiarity with regulatory frameworks were highlighted by Binance Chief Executive Richard Teng. Teng expressed confidence that Seker’s appointment would enable Binance to continue pursuing sustainable and responsible growth while ensuring stringent compliance standards within the APAC region.
Before joining Crypto.com, Seker held significant legal positions in various financial institutions, including Ant Group, Rothschild & Co, and Amicorp Group. Additionally, he has experience as a litigator in Australia and served as a central banking lawyer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Seker’s arrival follows the recent appointment of Matt Poblocki, another seasoned executive in the fintech and legal sectors, who took on the role of general manager for Australia and New Zealand in July. Along with Seker and Poblocki, Binance has also recruited Gillian Lynch, the former CEO of Gemini Europe, known for her proficiency in securing regulatory approvals and navigating intricate legal environments.
These strategic appointments by Teng are perceived as a deliberate shift towards enhancing Binance’s governance and oversight, especially in light of the company’s previous challenges under its founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The move aims to reassure stakeholders and regulators following concerns raised by AUSTRAC regarding the company’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing practices, which led to a directive for an independent audit.
As of January, Binance boasts a substantial user base of over 250 million registered users, with assets exceeding US$160 billion under its custody. The exchange continues to position itself as a leader in the cryptocurrency space while striving to align with regulatory expectations.
