Crypto.com Appoints New Global Compliance Chief

The platform adds new compliance leadership to navigate its expansion into regulated derivatives and payment services.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in People

Crypto.com Appoints New Global Compliance Chief

Live Poll

Do you trust financial technology firms to maintain adequate compliance as they expand their services?

Crypto.com has appointed industry veteran Mohammed Mortajine as its new global chief compliance officer to oversee the platform's expansion into payment services and derivatives. The leadership change comes as the company navigates increased regulatory scrutiny, including a document request from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Why it matters

The transition occurs as the platform broadens its business model beyond standard crypto trading into more complex financial products, necessitating sophisticated compliance infrastructure. This move reflects the broader industry pressure to align risk management with the requirements of international regulators.

The new compliance chief brings experience managing risk programs across 200 countries and territories. This appointment supports the company’s expansion into derivatives and payment services following the February 2026 acquisition of a limited financial institution license in Malta.

The players

Mohammed Mortajine

The new global compliance chief with experience in managing international risk programs at Western Union, ACI Worldwide, and Paysafe.

Crypto.com

A global cryptocurrency exchange platform scaling its operations into payment services and regulated derivatives markets.

US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A congressional body investigating potential regulatory breaches and insider trading practices within financial platforms.

Binance

A major global cryptocurrency exchange and competitor that recently hired the former chief compliance officer of Crypto.com.

The details

Mortajine will manage compliance for payment services, derivatives, and prediction markets, which utilize specialized customer-verification procedures. His appointment replaces the previous compliance head who departed for Binance. The company must simultaneously address a September 2026 document request from U.S. legislators investigating potential insider trading on event-contract platforms.

Timeline

  1. 2020: Previous chief compliance officer joined the company.

  2. February 2026: Malta-based entity received a limited financial institution license.

  3. August 2026: Report emerged regarding the departure of the former compliance chief.

  4. September 2026: U.S. House Committee requested documents from the company.

  5. October 22, 2026: Official confirmation of Mohammed Mortajine's appointment.

Market Landscape

The appointment follows the company's efforts to secure MiCA-compliant status through its Malta-based entity. This pivot toward traditional financial services marks a departure from pure-play crypto trading models, placing it under increased scrutiny similar to legacy financial institutions.

Operators in the fintech and crypto space should prepare for tighter customer-verification requirements as platforms prioritize regulatory licensing over growth. Firms should track whether this leadership change alters the company's cooperation level with the ongoing U.S. House Committee inquiry.

The takeaway

The appointment suggests a shift toward institutional-grade compliance as firms face increasing scrutiny from global legislative bodies. Operators should monitor the progress of the U.S. House Committee inquiry as a bellwether for future federal oversight of event-contract platforms.

Further reading

For additional context on leadership shifts in this sector, explore our coverage of People.

Live Poll

Do you trust financial technology firms to maintain adequate compliance as they expand their services?