Zumo, the B2B digital assets infrastructure that prioritises compliance and sustainability, today announces the appointment of Ashwath Mehra as a non-executive director.

An economist by training, Mr Mehra is CEO of the ASTOR Group, a private investment and advisory business, working across mining, technology, biotech and real estate. He has over 30 years’ experience in debt and equity capital markets and is a respected figure in the global business community.

He is also a director of several private and public companies in both executive and non-executive roles, and devotes much of his time to non-profit activities in education and healthcare.

Mr Mehra joins Zumo at a pivotal time for the digital assets sector.

In January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave approval to Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a watershed moment for the nascent industry. Market watchers and crypto enthusiasts alike believe the billions of dollars flowing into the new ETFs will push crypto into the mainstream.

And in March, the London Stock Exchange said it will start accepting applications for the admission of exchange-traded notes (ETNs) backed by Bitcoin and Ether, opening another avenue for professional investors to invest in the asset class.

Nick Jones, founder and CEO, Zumo said: “I’m excited to welcome Ashwath to the Zumo team at a real inflection point for our industry. He has a wealth of experience and a deep skill set that will help us strengthen our governance structures and capitalise on our regulatory advantage. It’s shaping up to be a huge year for the company and having Ashwath on the board is a timely boost.”

Ashwath Mehra, non-executive director, Zumo added: “Institutional interest in digital assets is surging as a result of recent developments and Zumo is well-positioned to play a pivotal role.”

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“I’ve been extremely impressed by the Zumo team’s passion, integrity and commitment to driving a sustainable, compliant digital assets sector that enables financial institutions to protect their customers whilst helping them to explore the new possibilities on offer.”

Mr Mehra is the latest addition to Zumo’s board, which includes Andy Downes, who is well known for bringing game-changing payment solutions to the market and has decades of experience in banking and fintech.