MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) announced the appointment of Joseph Chalom, former Head of Digital Assets Strategy at BlackRock, as its new Co-Chief Executive Officer, effective July 24, 2025. Chalom’s move from the traditional finance giant to the prominent Ether (ETH) holder marks a significant development for the company and the broader digital asset space, aiming to position Ethereum at the forefront of global finance.
Chalom brings over two decades of experience from BlackRock, where he was instrumental in the firm’s digital asset initiatives. During his tenure, he played a key role in the launch of significant products, including the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) with over $87 billion in assets under management (AUM), the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) exceeding $10 billion in AUM, and BUIDL, the first tokenized Treasury fund on Ethereum. His expertise in bridging traditional finance with digital assets is expected to be pivotal for SharpLink.
SharpLink, recognized as one of the world’s largest corporate holders of Ether, has recently pivoted its strategy to focus on an ETH treasury model. Joseph Lubin, SharpLink Chairman, Co-Founder of Ethereum, and Founder and CEO of ConsenSys, stated that Chalom's decision to join is "a resounding validation of our ETH treasury strategy and vision for Ethereum to drive profound, transformative change across the global digital economy." The company aims to leverage its substantial ETH holdings to innovate within the decentralized finance ecosystem.
The appointment underscores SharpLink’s ambition to accelerate the institutional adoption of Ethereum. Chalom himself expressed his vision, stating, "I am joining SharpLink because I see a powerful opportunity to help shape the future of financial infrastructure and decentralized finance." This strategic leadership addition is anticipated to enhance SharpLink's capabilities in integrating digital assets into mainstream financial systems.
With Chalom assuming the Co-CEO role, Rob Phythian, SharpLink’s current CEO, will transition to the role of President over the next quarter and remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. This leadership restructuring is set to strengthen SharpLink's strategic direction as it continues to advocate for Ethereum adoption and expand its influence in the evolving digital economy. The company's recent aggressive ETH acquisitions, surpassing $1.3 billion, highlight its commitment to this strategy.