OKX Global General Counsel Is Latest Legal Exec to Leave the Exchange

The restructuring of leading legal and compliance roles at cryptocurrency exchange OKX continues with the departure of the firm’s global general counsel, Melissa Muehlfeld.

Muehlfeld joined OKcoin, the U.S. arm of OKX, back in May of 2022 as deputy general counsel. She was promoted to global general counsel in August 2024.

Since OKX paid half a billion dollars to settle charges with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) in February of this year, the exchange has replaced some top legal and compliance staff, including chief legal officer Mauricio Beugelmans, and head of compliance Vanessa Zhang.

OKX appointed the former superintendent and head of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), Linda Lacewell, as its chief legal officer (CLO) after Beugelmans’ departure.

Lacewell is said to be restructuring the firm’s legal and compliance divisions, according to a source familiar with the situation.

“As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on all people that join and/or depart the company,” an OKX spokesman said via email.

Muehlfeld did not respond to requests for comment.