GCEX Appoints Mohammed A. Mulla to Board as It Expands UAE Digital Asset Business

GCEX has appointed Mohammed A. Mulla to the board of its Dubai-based entity, strengthening the company's leadership as it continues to expand its regulated digital asset business in the United Arab Emirates.

The appointment comes as GCEX builds on its position as one of the early Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) licensed by Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) to provide broker-dealer services.

Veteran Capital Markets Executive Joins GCEX

Mulla brings nearly two decades of experience across foreign exchange, capital markets, and financial services in the Middle East and internationally.

Before joining GCEX, he spent 16 years at Finalto (formerly CFH), where he served as the founding Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. During his tenure, he helped generate approximately $2 trillion in straight-through processing (STP) trading volume.

He also led the launch of Noor Clearing in 2019, a strategic partnership between Finalto and Noor Capital PSC, supporting the firm's regulatory transition from oversight by the UAE Central Bank to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).

Earlier in his career, Mulla worked at ODL Securities in London and began his professional journey as an auditor at Ernst & Young in Saudi Arabia. He holds a master's degree in International Finance from Westminster Business School in London, along with professional certifications in securities and regulation from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

Supporting Regional Growth

GCEX Founder and CEO Lars Holst said Mulla's regional expertise and longstanding industry relationships will help support the company's next phase of expansion.

Holst noted that he has worked with Mulla since the early days of CFH and described him as bringing deep regional knowledge, an extensive network, and a proven track record to the business.

For his part, Mulla said the appointment reflects his confidence in GCEX's long-term strategy and its institutional approach to digital asset markets.

He highlighted the firm's focus on providing access to Tier 1 liquidity, operating without conflicts of interest, and building long-term relationships with institutional clients.

Focus on Regulated Digital Assets

Mulla also pointed to the company's regulatory positioning in Dubai, noting that GCEX was among the first firms to receive a VARA operating licence for virtual asset broker-dealer services and the first to obtain approval to operate with a client money account.

He added that the growing importance of blockchain technology, digital assets, and tokenized real-world assets presents significant opportunities for expansion as institutional adoption accelerates.

Institutional Crypto and FX Services

GCEX provides institutional and professional clients with access to digital asset and foreign exchange markets through contracts for difference (CFDs), spot trading, and digital asset conversion services.

The company also offers a suite of infrastructure solutions under its XplorDigital platform, including custody, staking, liquidity connectivity, risk management, and white-label brokerage technology designed for financial institutions entering the digital asset market.