Bivu Das, a former executive of Starling Bank, has been appointed as the new UK managing director of Kraken, a leading FCA-registered cryptoasset exchange and custodian wallet provider. The announcement was made this week, marking the beginning of what Das refers to as the "next chapter" for the firm.
Das's role at Kraken will involve overseeing the company's UK business, which includes managing 275 employees and a significant client base. Additionally, he will be responsible for handling 50% of GBP spot trading volume in crypto. Prior to his appointment, Das served as head of operations strategy and scaling at Starling Bank. He also led FIBR UK and Unblock, a startup focused on crypto payments gateway.
This leadership change comes at a time when marketing restrictions are causing disruptions for offshore exchanges such as Gemini. These restrictions have led to Bybit suspending its UK operations and Binance halting its process of onboarding new customers.
Anne Boden, founder of Starling Bank, and Harald McPike, a Bahamas-based billionaire who backed Starling Bank, are among those who are likely to see Das's vision as a pivotal moment in the crypto industry. His experience and strategic approach may play an essential role in navigating the current challenges facing offshore exchanges and securing Kraken's position in the market.
Das takes over from Blair Halliday, who previously held the position of UK managing director at Kraken. The company has expressed confidence in Das's capabilities to lead the firm into its next phase of growth in the UK market.
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