Axiology, a regulated digital asset financial infrastructure platform based in Lithuania, has strengthened its board by appointing David Newns, former CEO of SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), and Boris Battistini, former Director at Metellus, as non-executive board members. The appointments come as European financial infrastructure providers accelerate efforts to build regulated platforms capable of supporting institutional adoption of tokenized assets.
The company announced on August 4 that the two industry veterans will join its board alongside executives with backgrounds in central banking, financial market infrastructure, and legal services. The move follows Axiology's recent €5 million seed funding round and expansion of its executive leadership team, reinforcing its growth strategy for the second half of 2026.
Newns brings more than 25 years of experience in institutional electronic trading and regulated financial markets. He previously served as CEO of SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), widely recognized as the world's first regulated digital securities exchange and central securities depository (CSD). Before joining SDX, he held a senior leadership position at State Street, where he oversaw the company's global multi-asset electronic trading platforms.
Battistini adds expertise in private markets investment and strategic corporate development, having previously served as Director at Metellus. His appointment broadens the board's experience in capital formation and long-term investment strategy as digital asset infrastructure evolves beyond early-stage experimentation toward institutional deployment.
Governance Becomes a Competitive Advantage
The appointments also strengthen a board that already includes Marius Jurgilas, Chairman and CEO and former Board member of the Bank of Lithuania; Algirdas Neciunskas, COO and former Director of Market Infrastructure at the Bank of Lithuania; and Andrius Mamontovas, Chief Legal Officer and Partner at FORT Legal.
Marius Jurgilas said Newns and Battistini bring extensive experience across both traditional financial markets and emerging digital asset infrastructure, supporting Axiology's goal of developing regulated infrastructure designed for institutional participants.
According to the company, the latest appointments build on a series of milestones achieved during the first half of 2026, including new funding, expansion of its executive leadership team, and additional commercial partnerships. Axiology expects the strengthened governance structure to support its next stage of growth as demand for regulated digital asset infrastructure continues to expand across Europe.
The appointments also reflect a broader trend across the digital asset industry. As tokenization initiatives move from pilot projects toward production-scale financial infrastructure, companies are increasingly recruiting executives with backgrounds in traditional exchanges, custody, and market infrastructure. Rather than focusing solely on blockchain innovation, competition is shifting toward governance, regulatory credibility, and operational expertise capable of supporting institutional capital.
For firms building Europe's next generation of regulated financial infrastructure, experienced leadership is becoming as important as technology itself. Axiology's latest board expansion illustrates how the industry's competitive focus is increasingly centered on combining digital asset innovation with the governance standards expected by institutional investors.
