The company adds veteran FX executive Steve Thomas to drive institutional growth.
He brings 25 years of experience from major trading platforms and financial firms, moving from Laser Digital.
Digital
prime brokerage firm GCEX has hired Steve Thomas, a veteran foreign exchange
and digital asset executive, to expand its UK and European sales operations as
institutional demand for crypto trading services grows.
GCEX Hires Ex-CBOE
Director Thomas for UK Expansion
Thomas
joins GCEX after spending two years at Laser Digital in FICC sales and
distribution. He previously held senior roles at Menai Financial Group, CBOE
Global Markets, and Hotspot FX over a career spanning more than two decades in
financial markets.
The
appointment comes just one month after GCEX brought on Kevin Gillespie, another
industry veteran, in a similar role. Thomas and Gillespie have worked together
previously at multiple firms and will now team up to identify new business
opportunities for the London-based broker.
Competition Heats Up for
Institutional Crypto Services
GCEX
operates in a crowded field of digital asset brokers competing for
institutional clients as traditional finance increasingly embraces
cryptocurrency trading. The firm offers contracts for difference on digital
assets alongside foreign exchange products and spot crypto trading.
Thomas
spent over five years as director of FX sales for Europe, Middle East and
Africa at CBOE Global Markets, where he covered the platform's largest client
segment. Before that, he worked for 18 years at Hotspot FX in various sales
roles, rising to the director level.
His career
began at Saxo Bank, where he worked alongside GCEX founder and CEO Lars Holst.
Thomas advanced through several positions over five years, eventually becoming
co-head of FX international sales.
Revenue Track Record
Attracts Digital Broker
Lars Holst, CEO & Founder, GCEX
Holst
pointed to Thomas's revenue generation capabilities as a key factor in the
hiring decision. The two executives maintained contact after their time
together at the Danish online broker.
"Steve
and I worked together at Saxo and have remained in close contact ever
since," Holst said. "He has generated significant revenue for the
firms he has previously worked for, and is widely respected in our industry,
known for his integrity and insight."
Thomas
expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with former colleagues at GCEX.
"Joining GCEX and working with Lars and Kevin again is an amazing
opportunity for me," he said. "Lars and his team have developed GCEX
into an impressive digital prime broker, with strong regulatory coverage, a
broad FX and crypto product range, great pricing, and a commitment to ongoing
innovation."
Regulatory Framework
Supports Growth Plans
The firm
operates under multiple regulatory licenses, including authorization from the
UK's Financial Conduct Authority and registration with Denmark's financial
supervisory authority. GCEX also holds a virtual asset service provider license
from Dubai's digital asset regulator.
Thomas
highlighted the regulatory framework as advantageous for attracting
institutional clients. "With the strength of our network, Kevin and I are
ideally positioned to bring a new dimension to GCEX, at a time when an
increasing number of institutional clients are seeing access to digital
assets," he said.
GCEX was
founded in 2018 and has expanded globally with offices across multiple
jurisdictions. The company's XplorDigital suite includes technology solutions
for other brokers looking to offer cryptocurrency services.
Digital
prime brokerage firm GCEX has hired Steve Thomas, a veteran foreign exchange
and digital asset executive, to expand its UK and European sales operations as
institutional demand for crypto trading services grows.
GCEX Hires Ex-CBOE
Director Thomas for UK Expansion
Thomas
joins GCEX after spending two years at Laser Digital in FICC sales and
distribution. He previously held senior roles at Menai Financial Group, CBOE
Global Markets, and Hotspot FX over a career spanning more than two decades in
financial markets.
The
appointment comes just one month after GCEX brought on Kevin Gillespie, another
industry veteran, in a similar role. Thomas and Gillespie have worked together
previously at multiple firms and will now team up to identify new business
opportunities for the London-based broker.
Competition Heats Up for
Institutional Crypto Services
GCEX
operates in a crowded field of digital asset brokers competing for
institutional clients as traditional finance increasingly embraces
cryptocurrency trading. The firm offers contracts for difference on digital
assets alongside foreign exchange products and spot crypto trading.
Thomas
spent over five years as director of FX sales for Europe, Middle East and
Africa at CBOE Global Markets, where he covered the platform's largest client
segment. Before that, he worked for 18 years at Hotspot FX in various sales
roles, rising to the director level.
His career
began at Saxo Bank, where he worked alongside GCEX founder and CEO Lars Holst.
Thomas advanced through several positions over five years, eventually becoming
co-head of FX international sales.
Revenue Track Record
Attracts Digital Broker
Lars Holst, CEO & Founder, GCEX
Holst
pointed to Thomas's revenue generation capabilities as a key factor in the
hiring decision. The two executives maintained contact after their time
together at the Danish online broker.
"Steve
and I worked together at Saxo and have remained in close contact ever
since," Holst said. "He has generated significant revenue for the
firms he has previously worked for, and is widely respected in our industry,
known for his integrity and insight."
Thomas
expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with former colleagues at GCEX.
"Joining GCEX and working with Lars and Kevin again is an amazing
opportunity for me," he said. "Lars and his team have developed GCEX
into an impressive digital prime broker, with strong regulatory coverage, a
broad FX and crypto product range, great pricing, and a commitment to ongoing
innovation."
Regulatory Framework
Supports Growth Plans
The firm
operates under multiple regulatory licenses, including authorization from the
UK's Financial Conduct Authority and registration with Denmark's financial
supervisory authority. GCEX also holds a virtual asset service provider license
from Dubai's digital asset regulator.
Thomas
highlighted the regulatory framework as advantageous for attracting
institutional clients. "With the strength of our network, Kevin and I are
ideally positioned to bring a new dimension to GCEX, at a time when an
increasing number of institutional clients are seeing access to digital
assets," he said.
GCEX was
founded in 2018 and has expanded globally with offices across multiple
jurisdictions. The company's XplorDigital suite includes technology solutions
for other brokers looking to offer cryptocurrency services.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
Bank of London Product Head: “Clients Don’t Want to Wait for Cutoff Times” On-Chain
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
