In a significant move to bolster its governance framework, Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX has appointed banking veteran Arvind Kathpalia to its advisory board. The former President and Group Chief Risk Officer of Kotak Mahindra Bank will play a crucial role in strengthening the exchange's risk management practices as the crypto industry moves toward increased regulation.
Banking Veteran Joins Crypto Frontier
Arvind Kathpalia brings decades of financial leadership experience from his tenure at prominent institutions including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Standard Chartered, and ANZ. His expertise spans risk management, technology-led transformations, operational processes, and strategic planning across the banking sector.
In his new advisory role, Kathpalia will provide guidance on enhancing CoinDCX's risk governance framework and support the development of structured risk assessment methodologies. He will also work closely with the leadership team to align the company's practices with global standards while advising on risk strategies for responsible scaling.
Strengthening Foundation for Regulated Future
CoinDCX has consistently emphasized risk governance as central to its operating philosophy. The exchange has several notable achievements in this domain, including becoming the first Indian crypto exchange to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The company has actively contributed to working groups developing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidelines and established a Crypto Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) to safeguard user interests. Additionally, CoinDCX has undergone third-party audits to validate its compliance measures and consumer protection protocols.
Kathpalia's appointment builds upon this existing foundation of regulatory compliance and risk management. His extensive experience will be instrumental in advising CoinDCX on strengthening its risk culture and enhancing governance frameworks during the industry's transition to a regulated environment.
Industry Significance and Future Outlook
This appointment marks a notable development in India's cryptocurrency landscape, representing one of the first instances where a seasoned financial services leader from traditional banking is guiding a digital assets exchange on governance and risk matters.
Speaking about his new role, Kathpalia commented: "CoinDCX is at the forefront of building a safe and transparent digital asset ecosystem in India, at a time when Indians are rapidly recognizing crypto as a future asset class. As the industry transitions towards a more regulated framework, embedding robust risk governance will be critical. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen this foundation and help CoinDCX scale responsibly."
The move signals CoinDCX's commitment to operating within regulatory frameworks while preparing for increased institutional participation in the crypto space. With Kathpalia's guidance, the exchange aims to establish new benchmarks for risk management and corporate governance in India's evolving digital assets industry.
