Dubai based crypto platform BitOasis is entering a new chapter after appointing Jonathan Rigg as chief executive officer, as the company looks to strengthen its position across the Middle East and North Africa.
Rigg takes over from BitOasis co founder Ola Doudin, who has led the company since its establishment in 2016. During that period, BitOasis developed from a homegrown UAE start up into one of the region’s most recognised cryptocurrency platforms.
The leadership change comes as the regional digital asset industry continues to mature. Regulation is becoming more established, institutional investors are playing a larger role and crypto companies are expanding beyond basic buying and selling services.
For BitOasis, the appointment signals the beginning of its next growth phase.
BitOasis Builds on UAE Growth
BitOasis has expanded significantly since its early days in Dubai.
The platform now serves more than one million customers, including individual investors, family offices and institutional clients. It has also recorded around $8.5 billion in spot trading volume, reflecting the scale the business has reached.
Its expansion has taken place alongside the UAE’s emergence as an important global destination for digital asset companies.
Dubai has established a dedicated regulatory environment for virtual assets, while interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain based financial services has grown among retail and professional investors.
BitOasis has adapted to that changing market. Retail customers remain an important part of the business, but the company is increasingly developing services aimed at professional and institutional investors.
Jonathan Rigg Brings Banking and Fintech Experience
Rigg joins BitOasis with experience spanning traditional banking, fintech and digital assets.
His career includes roles at major financial institutions including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, where his work covered areas such as prime brokerage and capital advisory.
He later moved into the fintech and digital asset sector. Most recently, he spent three years as Vice President, Commercial at Fuze Finance and was part of the company’s founding team.
His experience also covers crypto infrastructure, over the counter trading, stablecoin payments and Banking as a Service.
That combination could prove valuable as BitOasis broadens its products and customer base.
Crypto platforms are increasingly expected to offer more than a simple way to buy and sell digital currencies. Security, regulatory compliance, liquidity and specialised services for professional investors have become more important, particularly in regulated markets such as the UAE.
Rigg has indicated that developing BitOasis’ products and capabilities will be among his priorities, alongside maintaining a focus on trust and safety.
Ola Doudin Steps Down After Nearly a Decade
Doudin’s departure from the CEO position marks an important moment in the company’s history.
She co founded BitOasis in 2016, when cryptocurrency was still a relatively niche part of the financial industry. Regulation was developing, institutional involvement was limited and many consumers were only beginning to understand digital assets.
Since then, both BitOasis and the wider cryptocurrency market have changed considerably.
The company expanded its customer base, secured regulatory approvals and introduced services for different types of investors.
The transition also comes around two years after Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX acquired BitOasis in 2024, a deal designed to strengthen the group’s presence across the Middle East and North Africa.
BitOasis Expands Its Gulf Presence
While BitOasis was founded in the UAE, its ambitions increasingly extend across the wider Gulf.
In May 2025, the company launched BitOasis Bahrain after securing a broker-dealer licence from the Central Bank of Bahrain, expanding its regulated regional presence.
Both Bahrain and the UAE have developed clearer frameworks for digital asset businesses. Regulatory clarity is particularly important as the industry seeks to attract customers who expect stronger standards around compliance, security and consumer protection.
BitOasis has also strengthened its services for professional investors through an over the counter trading desk aimed at customers handling larger transactions.
The company has secured regulatory approval for derivatives products as well, indicating its intention to develop a broader range of digital asset services.
Institutional Crypto Trading Gains Momentum
Professional investors are becoming increasingly important to the regional crypto market, as digital asset platforms broaden their services for institutional investors.
BitOasis previously reported that institutional and VIP customers accounted for more than 66 per cent of its overall trading volume in 2025.
The company has also seen growing activity among high-value traders, corporate customers and treasury clients.
These customers often have different requirements from everyday retail investors. Larger transactions, deeper liquidity, efficient settlement and specialised support can become more important as the size and complexity of trades increase.
For established crypto platforms, that creates a significant growth opportunity but also raises expectations around reliability, regulation and security.
A New Chapter for BitOasis
The UAE’s digital asset industry has matured rapidly, with competition increasing as regional and international companies expand their presence.
BitOasis enters its next chapter with more than one million customers, billions of dollars in trading activity and an expanding regulated footprint across the Gulf.
Rigg’s challenge will be to build on that foundation while responding to evolving regulation, stronger competition and changing investor expectations.
The company’s expansion into institutional trading, OTC services and derivatives also shows how far it has moved beyond its original retail focused model.
The appointment of a new CEO is therefore more than a leadership change. It comes as BitOasis prepares for its next stage of regional growth and as the UAE’s cryptocurrency industry becomes increasingly connected with the wider financial system.