Head of Exchange

Luno; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work-from-home options

6 months primary caregiver leave

Paw-ternity leave

Excellent private medical insurance

Annual Inspiration Day

Collaborative work community and events

Free lunch and snacks

Job summary

A leading cryptocurrency investment firm in the UK seeks an experienced Head of Exchange to drive the operational and strategic direction of its trading platform. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in a senior leadership role within the crypto exchange sector, excelling in market operations, regulatory compliance, and team management. This position offers a collaborative work environment with opportunities for personal development, including flexible work policies and a range of employee perks.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8-10 years in a senior leadership role at a cryptocurrency exchange or financial institution.
• Strong understanding of market microstructure and order book management.
• Proven track record in mentoring and managing distributed teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term strategy for the exchange and product roadmap.
• Oversee day-to-day operations ensuring performance, stability, and security.
• Ensure compliance with global regulations including AML, KYC, and market abuse.

Skills

Market knowledge in crypto

Leadership and team management

Regulatory compliance expertise

Technical proficiency in trading technology

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, or Computer Science

Job description

Luno is the crypto investment app you can rely on, enabling you to buy, store and explore crypto securely. We’re committed to putting the power of cryptocurrency in everyone's hands sensibly and responsibly.

Since 2013, we’ve helped millions of people around the world invest safely in crypto. We do this by cutting through the hype and supporting customers at every step of the way. All products and cryptocurrencies on our platform must first meet stringent legal, risk and technical security standards.

Transparency is key for us. Luno stores all crypto on a 1:1 basis and we have rigorous processes in place so you can be confident your investment is secure. We’re available in more than 40 countries around the world and we work closely with respective regulators in all of these markets to be fully compliant, as we believe this is the best way to help everyone, everywhere, invest safely.

The role in a nutshell:

We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and results-driven individual to lead our Exchange function as the Head of Exchange. This pivotal leadership role will be responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and overall growth of our trading platform. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of market structure, technology, liquidity provision, and exchange operations in the digital assets space.

Your mission will be:

- Strategy and Vision

• Define and execute the long‑term strategy for the exchange, including product roadmap, market positioning, and growth initiatives, aligning with the company's overall vision.
• Identify new market opportunities, product expansions (e.g., new derivatives, staking products, token listings), and partnerships to drive volume and revenue growth.
• Lead the analysis of relevant market trends, competitive landscapes, and technological advancements to maintain a competitive edge.
• Partner with other businesses within the group to develop new opportunities and drive synergies across the group.

- Exchange Operations and Performance

• Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the exchange, ensuring high performance, stability, security, and low latency of the trading infrastructure.
• Drive continuous improvement in trading features, execution quality, market‑making tools, and overall user experience for retail and institutional clients.
• Monitor and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) such as trading volume, market share, revenue, and liquidity depth, as well as P & L performance, implementing strategies to meet aggressive targets.
• Manage relationships with key market participants, including liquidity providers, custodians, and institutional traders.
• Lead the community management of Luno’s top traders globally to create a valuable ecosystem gathering constant feedback to drive customer improvements across the trading product suite.

- Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure all exchange operations, listings, and market activities are fully compliant with relevant global regulations and internal policies (e.g., AML, KYC, market abuse monitoring).
• Act as the primary contact for regulatory bodies and internal compliance teams concerning exchange operations.
• Develop and enforce robust risk management frameworks, including trading risk, credit and counterparty risk, operational risk, and technological risk.

- Team Leadership and Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high‑performing team across trading operations, product management, market surveillance, and technology functions dedicated to the exchange.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning within the Exchange team and the broader business.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams including Engineering, Product, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Treasury and Marketing.

A little about you:

• Experience: Minimum of 8-10+ years of experience in a senior leadership role within a reputable cryptocurrency exchange, electronic trading venue, or leading financial institution, with a direct focus on market operations or product management. Experience in Digital Assets is required.
• Market Knowledge: Deep expertise in market microstructure, electronic trading systems, liquidity strategies, and order book management.
• Leadership: Proven track record of building, mentoring, and managing high‑performing, geographically distributed teams.
• Regulatory Acumen: Strong understanding and experience of regulatory requirements (e.g., MiFID II, SEC, CFTC, FSCA, FCA, or equivalent crypto/financial regulations) relevant to operating a trading venue.
• Technical Proficiency: Solid understanding of trading technology, system architecture, and low‑latency environments.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Computer Science, or a related field.

- Preferred Skills

• Experience launching new exchange products or expanding into new regulated markets.
• Familiarity with various products beyond spot trading, such as derivatives (futures, options), lending/borrowing, and staking services.
• Strong network within the institutional trading and financial technology communities.
• Remote but reachable work policy gives you the freedom to choose between working from home or the office.
• Plus the option to buy and sell up to 5 days leave.
• Improve body and mind, with excellent private medical insurance.
• Access to Learnably and our additional learning platforms for your personal and professional development.
• 6 months primary caregiver leave.
• Paw‑ternity leave for your furry friend.
• Annual Inspiration Day in addition to your annual leave which increases based on your length of service!
• A collaborative, friendly work community, with regular social events and virtual cooking, dancing, drawing and house planting classes hosted by our Lunauts.
• Free lunch and snacks.
• 0 fees up to a certain amount with Luno from the day you start.*

*Offer only available on Luno Instant Buy, not Luno Exchange.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.