SharpLink Gaming Appoints Joseph Chalom as Co-CEO, Rob Phythian Transitions to President Role

SharpLink Gaming has appointed Joseph Chalom, a former BlackRock senior executive, as its new Co-CEO. Chalom brings institutional leadership experience and a track record of delivering digital finance innovations, including the launch of the iShares Ethereum Trust. Current CEO Rob Phythian will transition to President and remain on the Board of Directors. Chalom will lead strategic partnerships and drive product innovation to boost institutional adoption.

MINNEAPOLIS, July 2, 2025 – SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET), a prominent player in the online gaming sector and the world's largest publicly traded company to adopt Ether (ETH) as its primary treasury reserve asset, has appointed Joseph Chalom as its new Co-Chief Executive Officer. The appointment is effective July 24, 2025, as announced in a company press release [1].

Chalom brings extensive experience in digital finance innovations, having spent 20 years at BlackRock. He most recently served as Managing Director, Head of Strategic Ecosystem Partnerships at BlackRock, where he led the launch of the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), the largest Ethereum exchange traded product with over $10 billion in current assets [1]. This move underscores SharpLink's commitment to aligning its strategic direction with the Ethereum ecosystem and its bold vision for the future of digital capital [2].

Current CEO Rob Phythian will transition to the role of President over the next quarter and remain on the company's Board of Directors [1]. Chalom's appointment is seen as a significant boost to SharpLink's efforts to drive institutional adoption and expand its strategic partnerships.

"I am joining SharpLink because I see a powerful opportunity to help shape the future of financial infrastructure and decentralized finance," Chalom said in the statement [1]. His experience in architected strategic partnerships with companies such as Nasdaq, Coinbase, and Circle, and his role in driving product innovation at BlackRock, position him well to lead SharpLink's next phase of growth [2].

SharpLink Gaming, Inc. is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates in the online gaming sector with a market capitalization of $2.3 billion [2]. The company's recent stock performance has been robust, with a significant increase in its Ethereum holdings and a strong liquidity position, as evidenced by its current ratio of 3.27 [1].

Forward-looking statements in the press release highlight potential risks and uncertainties, including fluctuations in the market price of ETH, government regulation of cryptocurrencies, and changes in securities laws or regulations [2].

For more information, contact:
Sean Mansouri, CFA or Aaron D’Souza
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
ir@sharplink.com

References:
[1] https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/blackrock-veteran-joseph-chalom-named-coceo-of-sharplink-gaming-93CH-4153268
[2] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/25/3121755/0/en/SharpLink-Welcomes-BlackRock-Digital-Assets-Pioneer-Joseph-Chalom-as-Newly-Appointed-Co-CEO.html