Ryan Selkis, the co-founder and CEO of Messari, a leading crypto data and research platform, abruptly stepped down today following a firestorm of controversy ignited by his social media posts.
Selkis, known for his outspoken personality, took to platform X this week to express a series of extreme political views. These views, widely described as inflammatory and hateful, included calls for violence against political opponents and xenophobic remarks concerning immigrants.
In a brief statement posted on X, Selkis acknowledged the damage his comments had caused. “This week was the first week in 6.5 years that my politics and rhetoric put the team in harm’s way,” Selkis wrote. “As such, I have decided to step aside as CEO.”
Eric Turner, Messari’s Chief Revenue Officer, will assume the role of interim CEO while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Selkis, according to his statement, will transition to a senior advisor role, though the exact scope of his duties remains unclear.
Messari’s leadership team reportedly held discussions with Selkis prior to his resignation. Selkis himself alluded to this in a separate post on X, stating, “Just had a terrific ‘tough love’ session with Messari leadership… I ran too hot this week, and will address that in full soon.”
The fallout from Selkis’s tweets was swift and severe. Messari employees, caught in the crossfire of their CEO’s personal views, faced potential threats and harassment due to their association with the company.
Messari, a well-respected player in the cryptocurrency industry, is now left to navigate the reputational damage caused by Selkis’s actions. The company’s commitment to neutrality and professionalism has been called into question, and it remains to be seen how they will regain the trust of the crypto community.
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