GC Exchange FZE (GCEX), a digital prime brokerage and part of the GCEX Group, has announced the appointment of Katina Messinis as its new Sales Director for the UAE. Messinis brings a wealth of experience in driving organizational growth and cultivating strong relationships with clients across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

GCEX Bolsters UAE Presence with the Appointment of New Sales Director

In her new role, Messinis will be based at GCEX's Dubai office and will focus on expanding the firm's client base, which includes brokers, hedge funds, family offices, and professional traders. She will offer clients access to deep liquidity in digital assets and a range of proprietary technology solutions, including XplorDigital, part of GCEX's XplorTrader product suite.

"Katina joins GCEX at an exciting time for our business, having recently been granted an Operational Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA),” Mehtap Önder, the Managing Director of GCEX Dubai, commented on the appointment.

This is another important increase for GCEX in recent months. The crypto broker appointed a former FCA associate as its Compliance Chief in February to support expansion.

Messinis has joined GCEX from Exinity, Dubai where she served as VP of Global Sales, overseeing operations in MENA, Africa, SEA, and LATAM. Before that, she was the Head of Premier Account Management at Exness in Malaysia, leading the sales team for Ultra High Net Worth clients and strategic partners across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Additionally, her career includes roles as the Acting Head of Institutional Sales at ZuluTrade and Head of Business Development of Asia at PwC Legal International in Singapore.

"GCEX is the leading digital prime brokerage in the industry,” Messinis commented. “This is extremely important to me and a key reason in my decision to come onboard. I am very excited to be part of the GCEX family."

GCEX, which opened its Dubai office in July 2022, facilitates institutional access to digital assets through its XplorDigital platform, encompassing its “Broker In A Box” plug-and-play white-label solution.

GCEX in Dubai

GCEX, a crypto brokerage, secured a VASP license from VARA at the end of last year, allowing it to offer virtual asset broker-dealer services in Dubai. Earlier this year, the company introduced two proprietary trading platforms designed for digital assets, alongside platforms for margin forex and contracts for differences trading.

Having established its Dubai office in July 2022, GCEX received its initial MVP (Minimal Viable Product) Preparatory License from VARA in February 2023. This licensure marks the commencement of its operations in Dubai, providing brokers, hedge funds, family offices, and professional traders with access to its robust liquidity options for digital assets, as well as its advanced technology solutions.

"VARA is leading the way in the global digital asset industry, and we are extremely proud to be one of the first firms to receive a VASP Operating Licence to provide Virtual Asset Broker-Dealer services and the first firm to gain approval to operate with a client money account, highlighting our focus on client protection," Önder commented back in November 2023.