Expertise to Navigate a Complex Landscape
Binance has appointed SB Seker as its new Head of Asia-Pacific (APAC), signaling a strategic shift amid growing regulatory challenges in the region. In his role, Seker will oversee regional strategy, compliance efforts, and engagement with regulators.
Seker brings over two decades of experience in legal, regulatory, and fintech leadership. His career highlights include:
- Senior Vice President at Crypto.com, managing product, legal, and regulatory operations across APAC and MENASA.
- Senior roles at Ant Group, Rothschild & Co, and Amicorp Group.
- Early work as a litigator in Australia and as a central banking lawyer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
This mix of private and public-sector expertise positions him to handle the complexities of APAC’s diverse regulatory environments.
Timing and Context: Regulatory Pressure Builds
The timing of this appointment is noteworthy. Recently, Australia’s financial regulator AUSTRAC ordered an independent audit of Binance’s local operations, citing serious deficiencies in anti-money laundering and compliance controls. This heightened scrutiny underscores the urgency for Binance to strengthen its regulatory posture in the region.
CEO Richard Teng highlighted that Seker’s appointment reflects Binance’s commitment to “responsible growth” and its intent to deepen cooperation with regulators. Teng emphasized that Seker’s deep regional knowledge will support Binance’s next phase of expansion while ensuring compliance remains a priority.
Strategic Signals: What This Means for Binance
This leadership move sends several clear messages:
- Reassurance for regulators: Binance is intent on demonstrating it takes compliance seriously.
- Regional cohesion: APAC markets vary widely, from tightly regulated hubs like Singapore and Australia to emerging markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Seker’s diverse background will help unify Binance’s approach across this spectrum.
- Operational resilience: His leadership is expected to bolster internal controls, improve licensing strategies, and strengthen partnerships in the region.
Industry analysts note that the hire is timely, coming at a moment when Binance faces heightened pressure to prove it can operate responsibly. With Seker at the helm, Binance is signaling a pivot toward reinforced compliance, greater regional stability, and more transparent engagement with regulators.
