About Role Role Purpose - The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, operational accountability, regulatory culture, and day-to-day executive management of BloFin.
- The CEO ensures that the Company operates in accordance with its VARA licence, approved Business Plan, Board-approved strategy, governance framework, Exchange Services scope, internal policies, and applicable UAE laws.
Regulatory Alignment The CEO is a member of Senior Management and may also be an Executive Director, subject to the Company’s governance structure and VARA Fit and Proper approval where applicable. VARA’s Company Rulebook places ultimate responsibility on the Board for the VASP’s operations, compliance, and compliance culture, while Senior Management must act under Board oversight and manage day-to-day activities in a manner that complies with all applicable laws and aligns with Board-approved objectives and policies.
The CEO may also act as a Responsible Individual, if approved by VARA. VARA requires VASPs to appoint two Responsible Individuals of sufficient seniority who are responsible for the VASP’s compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. Each Responsible Individual must be a full-time employee, Fit and Proper, resident in the UAE or a UAE passport holder, and notified to and approved by VARA during licensing.
Reporting Line The CEO reports to the Board of Directors. The CEO has oversight over Senior Management, including the COO, CCO, MLRO, Head of Risk, CFO, CTO, CISO/DPO, General Manager, and other senior function heads, subject to independence and segregation-of-duties requirements.
Key Responsibilities of the Role Strategic Leadership and Business Oversight - Lead BloFin’s UAE strategy and ensure the Company operates only within the scope of its VARA-authorised Exchange Services activity.
- Ensure BloFin does not offer unauthorized activities, including Custody Services, lending, borrowing, staking, yield products, derivatives, leverage, advisory services, broker-dealer services, or other VA activities unless separately approved by VARA.
- Ensure the business model remains aligned with the approved Business Plan and any VARA licence conditions.
- Oversee implementation of the Company’s UAE operating model, ensuring full separation from global BloFin operations where required.
Regulatory Accountability and VARA Engagement - Maintain constructive and transparent engagement with VARA.
- Ensure timely responses to VARA requests, RFIs, supervisory queries, inspections, and reporting obligations.
- Ensure material changes to business, control, Senior Management, outsourcing, technology, or operating model are escalated for regulatory review or approval where required.
- Ensure VARA notifications are made within applicable timelines for material incidents, regulatory breaches, cybersecurity events, operational failures, or client-impacting matters.
Governance and Compliance Culture - Promote a strong compliance-first culture across BloFin.
- Ensure adequate resources are allocated to compliance, AML/CFT, risk, technology, cybersecurity, data protection, operations, market surveillance, and client support.
- Ensure governance committees operate effectively and receive accurate management information.
- Support the Board in fulfilling its governance, oversight, and supervisory responsibilities.
- Ensure all Senior Management and control function holders have clear authority, accountability, and reporting lines.
Exchange Services Oversight - Oversee the safe and compliant operation of BloFin’s centralized spot exchange.
- Ensure the matching engine, trading systems, order management, client onboarding, market surveillance, settlement coordination, and client disclosures operate in accordance with VARA requirements.
- Ensure trading venue rules, participant code of conduct, market abuse controls, and disciplinary procedures are implemented and enforced.
- Ensure final settlement for Exchange Services purposes is completed within the applicable timeframe, subject to factors outside BloFin’s control, and supported by reconciliation and custodian confirmations.
Custodian and Client-Asset Oversight - Ensure a VARA-licensed custodian is appointed and maintained for Client Virtual Assets.
- Ensure BloFin does not hold, store, control, operate, or safeguard Client VA wallets, private keys, MPC key shares, or transaction-signing authority.
- Ensure effective oversight of client-asset reconciliation, custodian reporting, withdrawal instruction processes, client disclosures, and custodian incident escalation.
- Ensure the Company maintains a clear separation between Exchange Services and Custody Services.
Financial, Prudential and Wind-Down Oversight - Oversee financial sustainability, paid‑up capital, net liquid assets, liquidity reserves, wind‑down funding, and budget discipline.
- Ensure the Wind‑Down Plan is maintained, reviewed, tested, and capable of supporting orderly cessation of operations and client asset return coordination.
- Ensure capital and prudential risks are monitored and escalated to the Board.
People, Resourcing and Fit and Proper Standards - Ensure Senior Management and key control functions are staffed by suitably qualified and experienced individuals.
- Support Fit and Proper assessments, annual competency reviews, training, and succession planning.
- Ensure sufficient UAE‑based resources and operational substance to meet VARA expectations.
Requirements for the Role Required Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Law, Technology, Engineering, or related field.
- Advanced degree or professional qualification preferred.
- Strong understanding of virtual assets, exchange operations, financial markets, corporate governance, compliance, AML/CFT, operational resilience, and regulatory engagement.
- Understanding of VARA Rulebooks and UAE regulatory expectations.
Required Experience - Minimum 10 years’ senior leadership experience in financial services, fintech, virtual assets, exchanges, brokerage, capital markets, banking, payments, or regulated technology.
- Demonstrable experience managing complex operations, regulatory relationships, governance structures, and senior teams.
- Experience with virtual asset exchange operations, trading infrastructure, client protection, market surveillance, or custody arrangements strongly preferred.
- Experience operating in a regulated environment and interacting with regulators.
Key Skills and Competencies - Strategic leadership and regulatory judgment.
- Strong governance, accountability, and decision‑making capability.
- Ability to manage commercial objectives without compromising compliance.
- Strong understanding of exchange operations, AML/CFT, market conduct, risk, technology, cybersecurity, and client protection.
- Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and maintain effective Board reporting.
- Integrity, reputation, financial soundness, and Fit and Proper suitability.
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