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.
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.
Also recently, the company hired Stanislav Bunimovich, a former COO at Finalto, as Managing Director for Asia-Pacific to drive regional expansion amid surging institutional crypto demand.
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.
You may also check other GCEX-related stories:
- GCEX Group Buys GlobalBlock to Expand Wealth Management Services
- GCEX Joins Lynq Network’s Real-Time Settlement Platform for Digital Assets
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.
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.
Also recently, the company hired Stanislav Bunimovich, a former COO at Finalto, as Managing Director for Asia-Pacific to drive regional expansion amid surging institutional crypto demand.
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.
You may also check other GCEX-related stories:
- GCEX Group Buys GlobalBlock to Expand Wealth Management Services
- GCEX Joins Lynq Network’s Real-Time Settlement Platform for Digital Assets