Bitcoin News Today: Brevan Howard Shakes Up Digital Leadership Amid Crypto Surge

Gautam Sharma, the CEO of Brevan Howard’s digital assets division, has reportedly left the firm after five years of service. Sharma, who previously served as head of principal investments at Brevan Howard, had played a pivotal role in overseeing the firm's family office’s crypto and digital asset investments. His departure comes as the firm does not plan to fill the role, according to people familiar with the matter. The digital assets division, established in September 2021, has grown to manage around $2 billion in assets and employs over 60 staff members, including 10 portfolio managers and 13 investment professionals [1].

Chris Rayner-Cook, former head of global trading and financing at Coinbase, has been appointed as the division’s chief investment officer, a role that will see him lead new initiatives within BH Digital. Rayner-Cook brings experience from firms such as Millennium Management and Citadel, and his appointment reflects Brevan Howard’s commitment to strengthening its digital assets offering. The firm has also recently added David Kalk, an alumnus of Peter Thiel’s family office, as a portfolio manager for the multistrategy digital-asset fund. Kalk and his team are set to join the business in the coming months [2].

The digital division, which has expanded rapidly since its inception, focuses on investments in blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance, and related technologies. In 2024, the funds managed by the division saw a 51.3% gain, aligning with broader improvements in the macroeconomic environment for cryptocurrencies [1]. Brevan Howard’s overall asset under management (AUM) is reported to be over $34 billion as of April 2025, with the digital division contributing a growing portion of that figure.

The departure of Sharma coincides with broader institutional interest in cryptocurrencies. Recent SEC filings indicate that major Wall Street institutions have increased their exposure to bitcoin through spot ETFs and related stocks. Brevan Howard, for example, nearly doubled its position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), holding 37.9 million shares by the end of June. This stake was valued at over $2.6 billion, placing Brevan Howard among the largest institutional holders of IBIT alongside firms like Goldman Sachs and Harvard University [3].

Brevan Howard’s interest in digital assets also extends to infrastructure investments. The firm recently launched a venture capital fund managed by Colleen Sullivan and Peter Johnson, further diversifying its digital strategies. The firm’s approach has been characterized by both direct investment in digital assets and indirect exposure through affiliated companies and ETFs, indicating a multi-pronged strategy to capitalize on the evolving crypto market [2].

As the crypto industry continues to mature, Brevan Howard’s digital division is likely to remain a key player in shaping institutional adoption. The firm’s recent leadership changes and strategic hires suggest a continued commitment to innovation and growth within the digital asset space, despite the departure of its former CEO [1].

Source: [1] CEO of Brevan Howard's Crypto Division Departs After Five ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/brevan-howard-crypto-division-ceo-gautam-sharma-departs) [2] Brevan Howard's Digital Business CEO Gautam Sharma ... (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-20/brevan-howard-s-digital-business-ceo-gautam-sharma-departs-firm) [3] BTC ETF News: Brevan Howard, Goldman Sachs and ... (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/17/brevan-howard-goldman-sachs-and-harvard-lead-billions-in-bitcoin-etf-buying-spree)