Peter Wilkinson, previously the global general counsel, is the new CEO, succeeding Stephan Lutz.
By Ian Allison|Edited by Omkar GodboleUpdated Jun 29, 2026, 7:09 a.m. Published Jun 29, 2026, 7:03 a.m. 1 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on BitMEX logo (Shutterstock)SummaryShow- Stephan Lutz, the CEO, along with CFO Ina Steiner and Chief Growth Officer Raphael Polansky, have left the company.
- BitMEX, co-founded in 2014 by Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed, is reportedly seeking a buyer.
BitMEX, a cryptocurrency exchange facing challenges, has dismissed its top executives, including CEO Stephan Lutz, CFO Ina Steiner, and Chief Growth Officer Raphael Polansky, according to CoinDesk.
Peter Wilkinson, who previously held the position of global general counsel and chief operating officer, has stepped in as the new CEO. This leadership change was noted in recent updates on LinkedIn.
No comments were provided by Wilkinson, Lutz, Steiner, or Polansky when contacted.
BitMEX was established in 2014 by Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed. The exchange was accused in 2020 of lacking sufficient anti-money laundering protocols, leading to a guilty plea related to these charges. Following the U.S. criminal indictments, Hayes, Delo, and Reed resigned.
In an effort to reduce costs and enhance its appeal to potential buyers, BitMEX seems to be restructuring amid a downturn in digital asset valuations affecting the broader crypto market.
Stephan Lutz took over as CEO during the last crypto market downturn in 2022, succeeding Alexander Hoeptner, who had been in charge since early 2021 when the co-founders stepped down.
The ongoing challenges in the cryptocurrency market have compelled various crypto and tech companies to downsize their workforce.
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