Leading crypto exchange Binance Australia has named former DigitalX (ASX:DCC) CEO Leigh Travers as its next chief executive.

He replaces Jeff Yew, who left in April to start Monochrome Bitcoin Fund, a capital growth fund for institutional investors.

Travers stepped down from DigitalX, which has its own $26.5 million crypto fund, in June. His last day with the company was August 20.

Before joining DigitalX seven years ago, Travers was a board member of Blockchain Australia.

“I’ve long been an advocate of the benefits that blockchain technology has to offer society, and it’s a mission of mine to grow the industry over the coming years,” he said.

“My key interests are shared with Binance Australia in championing the adoption of blockchain and the pathway for blockchain businesses in Australia.

“The opportunity to work with users nationally is incredibly exciting.”

Operated by Queensland-based InvestbyBit, Binance Australia is a fiat-to-crypto trading exchange that offers Australians an onramp to the international trading platform Binance.com.

Yesterday afternoon Binance Australia was reporting A$12.5 million in 24-hour Bitcoin trading volume, more than double the volume of BTC traded on Sydney-based Independent Reserve and triple the volume of Melbourne-based BTC Markets.

“Since Binance Australia launched last year, it has been one of the fastest growing FinTech companies in Australia, and for good reason,” Travers said.

“Since the launch, Binance Australia has continued to innovate and become a leader in the digital asset industry nationally. I have set some high expectations and am looking forward to the opportunity.”

Travers said he planned to focus on growing the brand and developing Binance Au’s relationships with regulators and policy makers.

“It is essential to advocate for a graduated, fit-for-purpose regulatory framework so that Australia can be a global leader in innovation and create jobs for the future economy.”

DigitalX said that its non-executive director Greg Dooley had agreed to consult on the company’s day-to-day operation until a new CEO can be named.