Bitmex Announces CEO for Swiss Business

1 min readUpdated May 25, 2025Jan 5, 20226:58 AM

After announcing plans to expand in Switzerland, the trading crypto exchange has now found someone to lead its Swiss business.

Seychelles-based Bitmex is appointing Ivo Sauter as chief executive of Bitmex Link Switzerland, according to his Linkedin profile. Sauter joins the crypto trading exchange from Gazprombank where he worked as a chief digital, transformation, and strategy officer.

Bitmex is a platform for crypto asset trading. Bitmex Link is the exchange’s digital trading asset service, which includes spot trading, brokerage, custody, information products and a so-called academy for digital asset and crypto trading training.

The company announced its intention to launch a Swiss office last year, along with plans to apply for a Finma license.

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What this means

Bitmex's appointment of Ivo Sauter, a former Gazprombank executive, for its Swiss operations represents a calculated move into a highly regulated market. This strategy aims to legitimise its offerings, such as spot trading and custody, and attract institutional clients by using Switzerland's reputation. This is a sound approach given the increasing scrutiny on unregulated crypto platforms and could pressure rivals by setting a higher bar for trust and compliance. While Odi launched direct sales in Australia for children's food, Bitmex's play is a strategic geographic expansion into a financial hub, akin to a major retail brand diversifying its presence. The critical next step to watch is the official filing date or approval of its Finma license application, which will confirm its ability to operate legally in the Swiss market.

Maria Santos · Retail News Asia newsroom

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