Currency.com has brought on Alexander Kravets as its U.S. chief executive, handing him responsibility for operations in a market where crypto platforms still face a patchwork of state-level licensing requirements.
Kravets spent over 25 years building and running regulated trading businesses, including stints leading U.S. divisions at CEX.IO and Symbridge crypto exchanges. At CEX.IO, helped to secure money transmitter licenses in over 30 states.
The hire comes as Currency.com works through the state-by-state licensing grind that crypto exchanges face in the U.S. In October 2025, the platform secured its 32nd money transmitter license, marking progress toward full coverage across all 50 states. Getting to that finish line typically takes crypto firms years and millions in application fees, surety bonds, and compliance costs.
License Accumulation Remains Slow Process
Currency.com still needs licenses in roughly 18 jurisdictions to operate nationwide. Each state sets its own rules, bond requirements, and processing timelines, with some applications dragging out for 12 to 24 months. New York's BitLicense remains among the toughest to obtain, while California's new Digital Financial Assets Law takes effect in July 2026, adding another layer of compliance work.
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Kravets brings direct experience navigating that maze. Before his CEO roles, he co-founded XTRD (now Axon Trade), an institutional-grade order execution management system for digital asset trading. His technical background spans trading systems, execution infrastructure, and risk management across both traditional finance and crypto markets.
"Alex brings an exceptional combination of regulatory experience, operational leadership, and technical depth to the table," said Konstantin Anissimov, Currency.com's global CEO. "His track record in building compliant U.S. crypto businesses aligns perfectly with our goals of responsible scaling in the American market."
Institutional Focus Drives Expansion Push
Currency.com has been positioning itself for institutional clients, with recent backing from N7 Capital signaling a push into that segment. The platform also partnered with OpenPayd to add multi-currency payment rails and foreign exchange liquidity across 30 additional currencies.
Kravets will oversee the buildout of U.S. infrastructure as the company chases more licenses.
"The U.S. market requires discipline, transparency, and strong execution ," he said. "Currency.com's strength lies in its clear long-term vision, and I'm excited to contribute to its delivery. As the company continues to build institutional-grade infrastructure, my focus will be to ensure U.S. operations are aligned with regulatory expectations and market demand."
The broader U.S. crypto regulatory picture remains in flux. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently urged Congress to pass federal crypto legislation, though state licensing requirements will persist regardless of any federal framework.
Platforms operating across state lines need both federal registration with FinCEN and individual state money transmitter licenses to stay compliant.
Kravets currently runs AK Solutions, an advisory firm focused on real-world assets, digital asset trading, DeFi yields, and derivative strategies. The press release about his appointment as Currency.com's U.S. CEO did not specify whether he will continue actively developing this project.
