Bitpace Appoints Koen Vanpraet as Chairman to Support Next Phase of Growth

WHY THIS MATTERS

The appointment of Koen Vanpraet as Chairman, alongside Jonathan Bell as Non-Executive Director, marks a critical shift for Bitpace as it transitions from a high-growth scale-up to a mature institutional player. Between January 2023 and January 2026, Bitpace recorded a staggering 900% growth in total transaction value, a trajectory that demands a move beyond rapid market acquisition toward rigorous corporate governance. Vanpraet’s extensive background in leading large-scale technology firms through periods of significant change is intended to provide the strategic “anchor” necessary to sustain this momentum without compromising on the financial controls required in a regulated global payments landscape.

This leadership overhaul is a direct response to the increasing complexity of the “hybrid” payment sector, where digital assets must be seamlessly managed alongside traditional financial workflows. For Bitpace’s global client base, the addition of Bell—a specialist in financial governance and control—provides the institutional assurance that the firm’s rapid scaling is backed by sustainable risk management. As Bitpace expands its footprint across strategic international markets, the board’s primary challenge will be maintaining its innovative edge while navigating the evolving, multi-jurisdictional compliance frameworks that define the 2026 fintech environment.

Bitpace, a leader in global payments, has announced today the appointment of Koen Vanpraet as its new Chairman to lead the board and support the company’s strategic direction and governance. This appointment strengthens the leadership team as Bitpace continues to expand its presence across the global financial and technology sectors.

Vanpraet joins the organisation with an extensive background in executive leadership, having previously held senior positions including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at several international technology firms. In his new role as Chairman, Vanpraet’s primary focus will involve strengthening governance and long-term strategy for Bitpace to support the next stage of growth.

Vanpraet’s career is defined by his ability to lead large-scale teams through periods of significant change. He has served as an Advisory Board member and Non-Executive Director for various organisations, gaining a comprehensive perspective of the fintech industry, business operations and how to navigate evolving landscapes. 

“The opportunity to join Bitpace as Chairman is a significant responsibility that I accept with great enthusiasm. I can’t wait to get started,” said Koen Vanpraet. “I look forward to working closely with the board and the talented team at Bitpace to achieve our collective goals for the future.”

Anil Oncu, as the CEO of Bitpace, says, “Koen’s appointment strengthens our governance as we scale Bitpace globally. We look forward to his guidance as we continue to deliver robust payment solutions to our global clients.”

Bitpace has also strengthened its board with the appointment of Jonathan Bell as a Non-Executive Director. Bell brings extensive international experience within the fintech and professional services sectors and will support the group in areas of financial governance and financial control to ensure the sustainable growth of bitpace.com.

Between January 2023 and January 2026, Bitpace has achieved 900% growth in total transaction value, a testament to accelerating client adoption and the company’s expanding footprint across strategic markets. Remaining focused on innovation, compliance, and scalable operations, the company continues to expand its global presence, enhance regional support and deliver tailored solutions that enable businesses worldwide to accept and manage digital payments in harmony with traditional financial workflows.

FF NEWS TAKE

Bitpace’s 900% transaction growth is one of the most impressive KPIs in the current payments landscape, but it also places the firm in a “governance pressure cooker.” By recruiting a veteran Chairman like Vanpraet, CEO Anil Oncu is clearly signaling that the company is preparing for its next phase—potentially a major capital raise or a public listing—where “founder-led” agility must be augmented by “board-led” discipline. The focus on “harmony” between digital and traditional finance suggests that Bitpace aims to be the definitive bridge for mainstream businesses that are no longer asking if they should accept digital payments, but how to do so with institutional-grade security.

However, the challenge for the new board will be ensuring that increased governance doesn’t stifle the “innovative spirit” that drove such explosive growth over the last three years. In the 2026 payments market, where margins are thinning and competition from bank-backed digital asset platforms is intensifying, Bitpace must leverage Vanpraet’s commercial expertise to turn its massive transaction volume into a long-term, defensible moat. The arrival of Bell to oversee financial control is a particularly savvy move; in the high-velocity world of crypto-to-fiat gateways, absolute transparency in financial reporting is the ultimate currency for building trust with both regulators and Tier 1 banking partners.