HONG KONG — George Godsal has launched a consultancy focusing on issues and reputation counsel in the burgeoning cryptocurrency sector, after departing his role as head of communications for crypto exchange BitMEX.

Godsal exits after two years with BitMEX, and has launched REKT Partners, marking a return to agency side after previous, senior stints with BCW, MSL and H+K Strategies.

Specifically, Godsal hopes to parlay his experience at BitMEX into helping crypto clients better handle the growing threat of crisis and reputation issues that companies in the sector are facing. During his time at BitMEX, the company's founders faced criminal charges from the US Department of Justice,  while settling civil charges brought by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network unit of the US Treasury Department

"I know from first hand experience that there is a real need for specialist crypto reputation and issues expertise, and it is a sector that is growing staggeringly and not short on issues in general," Godsal told PRovoke Media. "If you look at the issues BitMEX had over the last 18 months, we couldn't find anyone that was experienced on the risk and issues side."

Accordingly, Godsal is aiming to build a partnership model that also brings in compliance, regulatory and legal experts, along with "non-traditional hires" in terms of crypto industry knowledge and experience. Like many, Godsal believes the crypto sector is underserved in terms of crisis, reputation and issues management support.

The launch of REKT Partners comes amid signs of agency growth in the crypto sector.  Last month, crypto specialist comms firm Yap Global established an Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore, featuring five new hires. One of the new arrivals is Gemma Lo, who leads Yap Global's Asia-Pacific operation.