Ethereum’s Institutional Momentum: SharpLink Hires BlackRock Veteran Amid ETH Resurgence
In a significant move underscoring growing institutional confidence in Ethereum, SharpLink Gaming—a treasury firm focused on ETH—has appointed Joseph Chalom, former Head of Digital Assets Strategy at BlackRock, as its co-CEO. Chalom brings over 20 years of experience from BlackRock, where he played instrumental roles in launching landmark crypto products such as the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the iShares ethereum Trust (ETHA). His hiring signals a strategic push to leverage Ethereum's financial infrastructure for institutional adoption. This development coincides with Ethereum's ongoing price recovery and heightened anticipation around spot Ethereum ETFs, further solidifying ETH's position as a cornerstone of the digital asset ecosystem. As of August 2025, the market views this as a bullish indicator for Ethereum's long-term valuation trajectory.
Ethereum Price Forecast: SharpLink Hires Former BlackRock Executive Amid ETH Comeback
Ethereum treasury firm SharpLink Gaming has appointed Joseph Chalom, BlackRock's former Head of Digital Assets Strategy, as co-CEO. Chalom's two-decade tenure at BlackRock included pivotal roles in launching crypto products like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). His move signals growing institutional interest in Ethereum's financial infrastructure.
Spot Ethereum ETFs continue their bullish streak with 15 consecutive days of net inflows, despite minor profit-taking activity. ETH currently trades at $3,650, down 2% on Friday, as markets eye the $4,100 resistance level following consolidation between $3,470-$3,780.
"I see a powerful opportunity to shape the future of decentralized finance," Chalom stated, underscoring Ethereum's expanding role in institutional portfolios. The hiring comes amid sustained demand for ETH from corporate treasuries and investment vehicles.
Ethereum Validator Exit Queue Hits Record High Amid Restaking Trend
Ethereum's validator exit queue has surged to a one-year peak of 521,000 ETH ($1.9 billion), requiring 19 days to process. Staking provider Everstake frames this not as capital flight but as strategic repositioning—validators are likely optimizing stakes or rotating operators rather than exiting the ecosystem.
While profit-taking remains possible after ETH's six-month price high, the backlog suggests structural shifts over panic. Market watchers note such churn may temporarily pressure prices but ultimately strengthens network resilience through stake redistribution.
AIDEN and INTMAX Partner to Enhance AI-Driven Decentralized Applications on Ethereum
AIDEN, an AI-powered Web3 search engine, has formed a strategic alliance with INTMAX Hub, a privacy-focused Layer-2 scaling solution on Ethereum. The collaboration aims to develop smarter, scalable decentralized applications by combining AIDEN's AI capabilities with INTMAX's high-speed, low-cost infrastructure.
INTMAX Hub leverages zero-knowledge proofs and Plasma architecture to deliver efficient, secure transactions. The integration will enable AI-driven services within the decentralized ecosystem, offering users enhanced functionality and engagement.
The partnership reflects growing convergence between artificial intelligence and blockchain scalability solutions. Ethereum's Layer-2 landscape continues to evolve as projects seek to address throughput limitations while maintaining privacy and security.
