MEXC Hires Bybit Compliance Chief as Exchange Pushes Beyond Crypto

MEXC has appointed Robert MacDonald as its new Chief Compliance Officer, bringing in a former Bybit executive to oversee the exchange’s global compliance efforts as it moves into tokenized traditional financial products.

MacDonald, who previously served as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Bybit, will be responsible for MEXC’s compliance strategy, governance framework, and regulatory engagement across multiple jurisdictions. His résumé includes prior roles at Binance, Standard Chartered, and Coupang Pay, as well as experience as a UK-qualified barrister working in financial crime and sanctions.

The appointment comes as MEXC broadens its offering beyond spot cryptocurrency trading to include tokenized stocks, exchange-traded funds, commodities, and precious metals. This multi-asset expansion introduces additional regulatory complexity, as tokenized instruments may fall under securities or derivatives rules that vary by country.

“Over the past decade, the crypto industry has grown at incredible speed, driven by innovation and global demand,” MacDonald said in a statement. “As the industry matures, trust won’t be a competitive advantage, but the price of entry, and compliance takes on a bigger role.” He added that compliance should be “the gateway to trust and sustainable growth at scale.”

MEXC CEO Vugar Usi, who took the helm in April 2025, said MacDonald’s hire supports the infrastructure needed for the exchange’s expansion. “MEXC’s mission is to make more opportunities accessible to users around the world, but expanding access also comes with a responsibility to earn and maintain their trust,” Usi said. “Robert’s deep experience across traditional finance, fintech, and digital assets will help us strengthen the regulatory and governance foundation needed to scale responsibly.”

Regulatory headwinds remain

The hiring also occurs against a backdrop of ongoing regulatory scrutiny. Japan’s Financial Services Agency previously listed MEXC Global among unregistered platforms, and issued a separate warning in 2025 regarding solicitation of OTC derivatives. Regulators in Austria and Spain have also issued public notices about the exchange.

MEXC says it serves over 40 million users across more than 170 markets and lists over 3,000 digital assets. The exchange plans to introduce more automated compliance infrastructure, including advanced transaction monitoring and customer verification tools, to address jurisdiction-specific requirements as its product range grows. MacDonald will work directly with regulators and industry participants to establish clearer standards and align operations with local rules.