SharpLink Shocks Crypto World: Ex-BlackRock Heavyweight Joins as Co-CEO to Supercharge Ethereum Strategy

Wall Street meets Web3 in a power move that's sending shockwaves through DeFi.

SharpLink just pulled off the ultimate institutional coup—snagging a former BlackRock exec to co-pilot their Ethereum ambitions. This isn't just another corporate reshuffle; it's a declaration of war on crypto's old guard.

The hire signals SharpLink's aggressive push into institutional-grade Ethereum infrastructure. Think staking services, tokenized assets, and maybe—just maybe—a BlackRock-style ETF play (because nothing makes TradFi guys happier than repackaging innovation into familiar boxes).

One thing's clear: when traditional finance titans start defecting to crypto startups, the game's changed. Though let's be real—the real test is whether this exec can navigate Ethereum's gas fees better than BlackRock's 2-and-20 fee structure.

Chalom’s BlackRock Legacy

Chalom served as Head of Strategic Ecosystem Partnerships at BlackRock, collaborating with Coinbase, Nasdaq, BNY Mellon, Anchorage Digital, and Circle to expand institutional digital asset adoption. He previously held senior roles including interim Deputy COO and COO of BlackRock Solutions, and served on the boards of Securitize and ClarityAI.

Chalom possesses a Johns Hopkins University and Columbia Law School degree, both of which provide financial markets experience as well as regulatory understanding for SharpLink’s institutional Ethereum strategy.

SharpLink’s Aggressive Ethereum Strategy

SharpLink recently acquired 79,949 ETH worth $258 million between July 14-20, bringing total holdings to 360,807 ETH valued at over $1.33 billion. The company has announced plans to raise $5 billion for future Ethereum-based investments, according to recent company statements.

The gaming company’s pivot to crypto treasury operations reflects growing corporate adoption of Ethereum as institutions seek exposure beyond Bitcoin to smart contract platforms and decentralized finance applications.

Leadership Vision

SharpLink Chairman Joseph Lubin, who also co-founded Ethereum, praised the appointment. He said Chalom’s “decision to join SharpLink is a resounding validation of our ETH treasury strategy and vision for Ethereum to drive profound, transformative change across the global digital economy.”

Chalom said he’s excited to help build the future of finance through SharpLink’s Ethereum-focused approach. He also said, “I’m thrilled to be leading SharpLink into its next phase and harnessing Ethereum’s unique value proposition for our shareholders.”

After 20 years at BlackRock and helping to lead its digital asset strategy, I’m beginning a new chapter:

I’ve joined @SharpLinkGaming as Co-CEO.

Here’s why.

At BlackRock, I helped launch:

– IBIT — world’s largest bitcoin ETP
– ETHA — world’s largest Ethereum ETP
– BUIDL —…

The executive hire signals broader talent migration from traditional finance to crypto-native companies as digital asset adoption accelerates among institutional investors. The MOVE by Chalom follows other high-profile jumps as crypto businesses attract for top-flight financial services talent.

The move comes alongside record Ethereum ETF inflows and increasing institutional faith in smart contract platforms. However, crypto treasury strategies still face big challenges — especially due to market volatility and unclear regulations.

Also Read: Ethereum Wave: SharpLink Aims to Raise $5B for ETH Investment