Native, a London-based startup broker specialising in digital assets, has announced the appointment of George Frith as its new divisional director for bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) compute. Frith, who brings over a decade of insurance industry experience, will spearhead the broking of complex risks related to digital assets, bitcoin mining operations, and AI compute infrastructure. His role involves closely collaborating with clients to identify their risk exposures and to facilitate access to bespoke insurance cover tailored to their specific needs.

Frith’s background includes underwriting and broking roles at leading insurance firms such as AIG, Hiscox, Superscript, and Relm Insurance, where he notably founded a property book from scratch. His technical knowledge, particularly in the crypto mining sector, is seen as a vital asset for Native as it navigates the challenges of insuring novel and rapidly evolving digital infrastructure risks. According to Ben Davis, Native’s co-founder and chief executive, Frith’s expertise “aligns perfectly with Native’s mission to bridge the gap between traditional insurance and blockchain technology,” adding that his innovative approach will be integral as the company redefines risk management in this emerging market.

Native officially launched in October 2024, supported by £2 million in seed funding from Nexus Mutual, to tackle the specific issue of underinsurance within the digital assets space. The firm aims to merge traditional insurance models with on-chain capital mechanisms, looking beyond simplistic premium adjustments. Frith emphasises that insuring complex setups, such as mining facilities with specialised cooling systems, power infrastructure, and bespoke ASIC hardware, requires fundamentally different approaches. He also highlights the importance of recognising the unique risks associated with AI compute facilities, which have their own environmental controls, redundant power systems, and costly GPU clusters. Native is collaborating closely with underwriters to develop coverage that truly reflects these nuanced operational realities, a strategy it believes will promote sustainable growth across the digital infrastructure ecosystem.

The emergence of specialist brokers like Native comes at a time when digital assets are increasingly influencing the finance sector, with numerous initiatives aiming to foster institutional adoption of blockchain and related technologies. Events such as Digital Assets Week London 2024 and the Digital Assets London Summit serve as important congregations for industry leaders, investors, and technologists to explore evolving regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and new business models. Native’s positioning in this ecosystem underscores a growing recognition that risk solutions must evolve hand in hand with innovation in digital asset management.

Native’s mission to craft innovative insurance solutions for digital assets aligns with broader trends in the market. For instance, other players like Archax, the UK’s first FCA-regulated digital asset exchange, brokerage, and custodian, are also working to integrate traditional financial regulation and infrastructure with emerging digital asset technologies. The continued growth of such specialised entities suggests a maturing sector that is gradually addressing the historic challenges of trust, coverage, and risk management that have hindered digital asset adoption at an institutional scale.

In sum, the appointment of George Frith signals Native’s commitment to delivering both deep technical expertise and innovative insurance solutions tailored for a complex, fast-moving digital asset landscape. The firm’s approach reflects a broader industry shift toward more sophisticated risk management frameworks that are essential for supporting the long-term sustainability and growth of the digital infrastructure underpinning blockchain, crypto mining, and AI compute operations.

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Source: Noah Wire Services