SharpLink Appoints Former BlackRock Executive Joseph Chalom as Co-CEO to Drive Institutional Ethereum Strategy

SharpLink Gaming has appointed former BlackRock executive Joseph Chalom as Co-CEO, effective July 24, 2025. Chalom brings over two decades of experience in institutional finance, including launching the iShares Ethereum Trust. He will lead SharpLink's institutional partnerships, DeFi integrations, and long-term capital markets strategy. The appointment signals a significant evolution in SharpLink's leadership and strategic direction as the company expands its presence in the digital asset ecosystem.

SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) has appointed Joseph Chalom as its new Co-Chief Executive Officer, effective July 24, 2025. Chalom brings over two decades of experience in institutional finance, including launching the iShares Ethereum Trust. He will lead SharpLink's institutional partnerships, DeFi integrations, and long-term capital markets strategy. The appointment signals a significant evolution in SharpLink's leadership and strategic direction as the company expands its presence in the digital asset ecosystem.

Chalom, previously a senior executive at BlackRock, has a distinguished career in digital finance innovations. He served as Managing Director, Head of Strategic Ecosystem Partnerships at BlackRock, where he led the firm's strategy across digital assets, data, and technology ecosystems. His tenure at BlackRock included pivotal roles such as the interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief Operating Officer of BlackRock Solutions. Chalom's expertise in strategic partnerships and product innovation has been instrumental in driving broader institutional adoption of digital assets [1].

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 move reflects a strategic shift aimed at leveraging Chalom's extensive experience in institutional finance to further expand SharpLink's Ethereum treasury strategy.

Joseph Lubin, SharpLink Chairman, Co-Founder of Ethereum, and Founder and CEO of Consensys, described Chalom's appointment as a "resounding validation" of the company's ETH treasury strategy and vision for Ethereum to drive transformative change across the global digital economy. Chalom himself expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to shape the future of financial infrastructure and decentralized finance, aligning SharpLink's strategic direction with the Ethereum ecosystem [2].

SharpLink Gaming is the world's largest publicly traded company to adopt Ether (ETH) as its primary treasury reserve asset. The company's aggressive acquisition of Ethereum, including a recent purchase of 77,210 ETH worth approximately $295 million, underscores its commitment to Ethereum's potential as a foundational infrastructure for the digital economy. The company currently holds about 438,017 ETH, worth $1.7 billion at current market prices [3].

The appointment of Chalom as Co-CEO coincides with SharpLink's ongoing efforts to raise $6 billion via a stock offering to fund further purchases of Ethereum. The company aims to capitalize on Ethereum's long-term value proposition, leveraging its publicly traded equity structure to attract institutional capital. Despite recent market volatility, SharpLink's substantial ETH holdings position it to capitalize on Ethereum's growth potential.

References:

[1] https://investors.sharplink.com/sharplink-welcomes-blackrock-digital-assets-pioneer-joseph-chalom-as-newly-appointed-co-ceo/
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/the_block:8a570663d094b:0-sharplink-gaming-buys-295-million-in-eth-pushing-total-holdings-over-438-000-eth-onchain-analysts/
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/ethereum-news-today-blackrock-executive-joins-sharplink-gaming-ceo-80k-eth-weekly-purchase-2507/