New APAC Chief SB Seker Takes Helm — Can Binance Regain Global Strength?

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is making a significant leadership change as it faces increasing global scrutiny. On September 1, 2025, the company announced the appointment of SB Seker as its new Head of Asia-Pacific (APAC). This move is seen as part of Binance’s ongoing efforts to shift from rapid, aggressive growth toward a more compliance-focused and stable model.

The appointment comes at a critical time. Regulatory bodies around the world are paying close attention to crypto exchanges, especially after high-profile failures like FTX shook investor confidence in the industry. By bringing in Seker, a seasoned compliance and legal expert, Binance is signaling that it intends to take regulations more seriously and strengthen relationships with governments in the Asia-Pacific region.

Who is SB Seker?

SB Seker brings more than 20 years of experience in legal, compliance, and financial services. His career includes senior roles at Crypto.com as Senior Vice President, and earlier, important positions at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), one of the most respected regulators in the financial world.

His background gives him a rare mix of inside knowledge about how regulators operate and practical experience in running compliance strategies at global crypto platforms. At Binance, his responsibilities include:

• Overseeing strategy and operations across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Strengthening Binance’s engagement with regulators and government agencies.
• Building sustainable growth that balances business expansion with user safety and transparency.

This region is particularly important for Binance, as APAC accounts for a large share of the world’s crypto adoption, but it also comes with challenges, such as tighter rules in countries like Australia, India, and the Philippines.

Why This Appointment Matters

Binance has had a rocky journey in recent years. In November 2023, the exchange reached a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. authorities over compliance failures. That settlement also resulted in the resignation of founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), a landmark moment in the company’s history. Since then, Binance has been trying to rebuild its reputation.

Under the leadership of new CEO Richard Teng, who took charge in May 2024, the company has introduced changes such as:

• Installing a board of directors.
• Strengthening Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
• Completing its first independent audit in January 2025.

The hiring of SB Seker adds another piece to this puzzle, showing that Binance is serious about working with regulators instead of clashing with them.

Eleanor Hughes, Binance’s General Counsel, commented that Seker’s appointment will help the company “strengthen partnerships, navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, and deliver sustainable growth that prioritizes transparency and user protection.”

 

The Bigger Picture

Binance’s decision to appoint Seker reflects a broader trend in the crypto industry: a shift from “growth at all costs” to compliance and accountability. Regulators are no longer willing to let exchanges operate in legal grey areas. Instead, they are enforcing stricter rules on anti-money laundering (AML), consumer protection, and financial transparency.

For Binance, this shift is essential for survival. With Asia-Pacific accounting for nearly 40% of global crypto adoption, success in this region could drive the exchange’s global recovery. If Seker can build trust with regulators and ensure Binance operates within legal frameworks, it could pave the way for the company to regain lost market share and strengthen its leadership in the post-FTX crypto world.

Binance’s Timeline of Key Events

• November 2023 — $4.3 billion U.S. settlement; founder CZ resigns.
• May 2024 — Richard Teng appointed as CEO.
• January 2025 — First independent audit completed.
• September 2025 — SB Seker appointed Head of APAC amid ongoing Australian audit by AUSTRAC.

Looking Ahead

Analysts estimate that if Binance’s compliance efforts in APAC are successful, the exchange could regain up to 10% of its market share in the region by 2026. However, this will depend heavily on whether Seker can navigate complex regulations while maintaining Binance’s appeal to users.

The challenge is twofold, keeping regulators satisfied while continuing to provide innovative services in a fast-moving crypto market. If Binance succeeds, it could not only recover but also set a new standard for how major exchanges operate under strict oversight.

The appointment of SB Seker as Binance’s Head of Asia-Pacific is more than a staffing change, it is a signal of Binance’s determination to reinvent itself. The exchange is moving from a reputation of aggressive expansion and regulatory clashes toward a model that emphasizes compliance, transparency, and stability.