UAE Based Matrix Exchange has hired Shane Thomson as its Head of Product and Custody Operations. Matrix Exchange was recently granted a license to operate a multilateral trading facility (MTF) and to provide custody in and from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Thomson is a key hire as Matrix Exchange scales up to launch its full operations later this year. Thomson will focus on ensuring that the MTF’s products and custody services are robust, industry-leading offerings that best serve institutional and retail customers.
Prior to joining Matrix Exchange, Thomson spent fifteen years gaining trading and banking experience as a trader of a variety of financial assets on behalf of private and public companies, as well as being the Head of Trading and Operations for Bitvo, a top Canadian virtual asset exchange. Prior to that, Thomson was the Foreign Exchange Dealer at Cambridge Global Payments and an Energy Trader for Capital Power. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst® charter holder.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring on someone of Shane’s caliber and experience with trading a wide variety of assets,” said James Wo, Chairman of Matrix Exchange and Founder of Digital Finance Group. “As the Head of Product and Custody Operations, Shane will oversee the development of some of the world’s most advanced virtual asset products, to ensure they’re both reliable and accessible to anyone who is new to virtual assets.”
Matrix Exchange intends to enable access to regulated trading of virtual assets for millions of users worldwide.
Thomson added, “It’s a tremendous opportunity to play a key role in delivering safe custody products and services with a robust, regulated trading platform that is well-positioned to bring modern investment opportunities to a wide range of global investors, many of whom are currently limited to using unregulated regional custodians and exchanges.”
Matrix Exchange’s initial virtual assets will consist of Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTE), and Ethereum (ETH), all paired with USD.
Matrix Exchange will meet growing demand in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region, a market-ready for virtual assets investment, and provide key infrastructure for growth.
The GCC leads the Middle East in internet access and adoption of digital payments and has seen a 400 percent increase in alternative finance investments from 2013–2016, according to Global Findex.
