SharpLink Gaming appointed former BlackRock executive Joseph Chalom as Co-CEO effective July 24, targeting accelerated institutional crypto adoption through its expanding Ethereum treasury strategy. He has more than 20 years of BlackRock expertise, including leading positions in the establishment of the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which now manages over $10 billion in assets.
According to the announcement, current CEO Rob Phythian will transition to President while remaining on the Board of Directors, creating a dual leadership structure as SharpLink expands beyond gaming into crypto treasury operations.
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.”
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
