Prime Ledger, a full-service digital asset firm specializing in real-world assets, has announced the expansion of its leadership team with three senior appointments. Lesley O'Neill joins as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Ankur Rakshit as Chief Financial Officer, and Chuck Thompson has been appointed to the company's Board of Directors. These moves come as the company scales its digital asset advisory services and responds to increasing institutional demand for regulatory compliance and financial rigor.
Robert Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Prime Ledger, emphasized the importance of these additions, stating, "Building durable infrastructure in this industry demands more than technology; it demands people who have operated inside the most heavily scrutinized institutions in finance and know how to build for that standard from day one." He added that the combined experience of O'Neill, Rakshit, and Thompson will provide the depth to scale responsibly and the credibility to earn trust from partners, regulators, and clients.
Lesley O'Neill brings over 15 years of experience in fintech, digital assets, Web3, and artificial intelligence. A New York-admitted attorney, she previously served as Chief Compliance Officer at Binance.US, where she oversaw AML/KYC, antifraud, internal audit, and risk management programs. She also led preparedness for the launch of CFTC-regulated products as the primary compliance liaison. Prior to that, she was Chief Compliance Officer and interim General Counsel at Prove Identity, where she built a global compliance program through three acquisitions and IPO readiness. At Prime Ledger, O'Neill will lead risk and compliance across the organization. She remarked, "What drew me to Prime Ledger is a leadership team that treats compliance as core infrastructure rather than an afterthought."
Ankur Rakshit, the new Chief Financial Officer, brings nearly two decades of experience in scaling high-growth Web3 protocols, digital asset exchanges, and traditional financial institutions such as Citigroup, American Express, Fidelity Investments, and Kraken. As a founder, CFO, and operator, he has built FP&A, strategic finance, and global treasury functions, guiding companies through rapid scaling and complex capital allocation. He holds an MBA in Finance & Strategy from Cornell University and a background in computer science engineering. Rakshit stated, "The companies that endure in this market are the ones that pair ambition with financial discipline. Prime Ledger has the former in abundance, and I'm joining to help build the latter."
Chuck Thompson, appointed to the Board of Directors, brings over 30 years of leadership in investment management and financial services, with expertise in corporate strategy, board governance, fund trusteeship, product development, and mergers and acquisitions. His experience in asset management and governance will support Prime Ledger's expansion into institutional advisory relationships. Thompson commented, "I have spent three decades in asset management where infrastructure evolves quickly, and the shift underway now in digital assets is as consequential a trend as anything I have seen."
These appointments signal Prime Ledger's commitment to meeting the highest standards of compliance and financial management, crucial for institutional adoption of digital assets. As the company continues to scale, the leadership team's deep regulatory and financial expertise will be instrumental in building trust and navigating the complex landscape of digital asset regulation.
