Independent Reserve strengthens Asia footprint with appointment of Lasanka Perera as Singapore CEO

Singapore – 1 February 2023 – Independent Reserve, the first licensed cryptocurrency exchange for all investors in Singapore, will look to further strengthen its Asia footprint with the upcoming appointment of Lasanka Perera as Chief Executive Officer, Singapore.

In his new capacity, Perera will build on the strong foundation that Independent Reserve has established in Singapore to develop its growth strategy in Asia, as it continues on its mission to be Singapore’s trusted cryptocurrency exchange. Concurrently, he will be responsible for the smooth operations of Independent Reserve’s global business as he retains his role as Group Chief Operating Officer.

Perera will take over the reins from Raks Sondhi, Managing Director of Independent Reserve Singapore. Sondhi will be leaving the firm in February 2023 to pursue professional opportunities.

Lasanka Perera, CEO of Independent Reserve Singapore said: “I’m excited to embark on my new role in Singapore. Importantly, this move reaffirms our commitment to the region, where we see healthy potential for growth and a mature regulatory environment. Under Raks’ steady helm, I’m proud to say that Independent Reserve has become a trusted local brand, and one that’s renowned for its strong policies, governance and robust security. I look forward to leading our Singapore and Asia business toward the next phase of growth, and meanwhile, we will continue to deliver the highest standards to our clients.”

“On behalf of Independent Reserve, we would like to thank Raks for his dynamic leadership, his tireless hard work and significant contributions to licensing and running our Singapore operations in the last few years. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavours,” he added.

Raks Sondhi, Managing Director of Independent Reserve Singapore said: “It has been extremely rewarding to have worked with a talented team and to grow Independent Reserve’s Singapore operations. From being one of the first cryptocurrency exchanges to have obtained a licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to developing new industry partnerships and shaping our offering to be smarter, better and safer – the journey has been nothing short of amazing. Over the last three years, we have worked closely with local policymakers and industry players to shape a safer ecosystem for investors. I look forward to what’s to come for Singapore’s crypto industry as I seek out my next adventure.”

Perera brings with him nearly two decades of experience in the markets and trading space, including establishing several regulated consumer-facing financial services businesses. As Co-founder and COO at Independent Reserve since 2013, he leads the daily business operations in Australia and New Zealand. He also oversees the execution of company-wide strategies to drive Independent Reserve’s business goals.

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ABOUT INDEPENDENT RESERVE

Established in 2013, Independent Reserve provides crypto exchange services to institutions, family offices, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and residents of Singapore to buy, trade, and safeguard crypto assets securely.

Independent Reserve is the first crypto exchange licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to provide Digital Payment Token (DPT) services under the Payment Services Act (PSA) 2019 to all investors.

With the mission to transform cryptocurrency technology into secure, robust and regulated financial services, building trust and robust security to safeguard our users' assets are at the heart of everything we do. Independent Reserve is the trusted crypto partner of over 250,000 global customers. For more information, visit www.independentreserve.com.

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Citigate Dewe Rogerson

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