OKX Appoints New Chief Legal Officer Amid Global Expansion

In Brief:

Former NYDFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell named Chief Legal Officer at OKX.

Appointment signals OKX's push for regulatory compliance in Europe and UAE.

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OKX has appointed Linda Lacewell as its new Chief Legal Officer, reinforcing its global regulatory strategy as the exchange expands into tightly governed markets. Lacewell, who joined the company’s board in 2024, previously led the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and played a key role in modernizing crypto regulation in the U.S.

This leadership change replaces Mauricio Beugelmans and comes at a pivotal time for OKX, which recently secured a MiCA license in early 2025. The license allows the firm to offer services across Europe, marking a milestone for crypto compliance in the region.

“Linda’s deep regulatory expertise will be invaluable,” the company said in its official announcement.

OKX’s legal positioning has grown more strategic in recent years, especially as the firm expands its reach. In 2024, it rolled out SGD services in Singapore and retained its VASP license in Dubai. However, it continues to face hurdles in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and withdrew its VASP application in Hong Kong due to compliance complexity.

With a daily trading volume exceeding $2.3 billion and a 150% user growth year-over-year, OKX remains the fifth-largest global exchange according to CoinMarketCap.

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