BlackRock's Head Of Digital Asset Strategy To Join Ethereum Treasury Company SharpLink (CORRECTED)

by Murtuza J Merchant Benzinga Staff Writer

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Joseph Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and SharpLink chair, calls Chalom’s appointment validation of its ETH-first strategy.
Chalom joins a growing list of executives moving from traditional finance to Web3-native institutions like Galaxy and LayerZero.
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Editor’s note: the story has been corrected with accurate information about other executive moves within the cryptocurrency industry.

Joseph Chalom, former head of digital assets strategy at BlackRock BLK, has been named co-CEO of SharpLink Gaming, Inc. SBET, the world's second-largest corporate holder of Ethereum ETH/USD, effective July 24.

Announced on July 25, the move underscores SharpLink's ambition to lead in Ethereum-based decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital asset innovation.

Chalom will serve alongside current CEO Rob Phythian, who will transition to president over the next quarter while remaining on the company's board.

SharpLink, a Minneapolis-based online gaming company with 360,807 ETH valued at approximately $1.34 billion as of July 20, 2025, is a prominent advocate for Ethereum adoption.

Chalom's expertise, honed through launching BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust ETHA with over $10 billion in assets, positions him to drive SharpLink's vision of bridging traditional finance and blockchain technology.

Joseph Lubin, SharpLink's chairman and Ethereum co-founder, called Chalom's appointment a "resounding validation" of the company's ETH treasury strategy.

Chalom stated, "SharpLink's commitment to the Ethereum ecosystem reflects a bold vision that resonates with my passion for digital assets and scaling innovative financial technologies. I'm thrilled to lead SharpLink into its next phase, harnessing Ethereum's unique value proposition."

Chalom's transition mirrors other executive moves within the crypto sector.

In May 2025, Chris Giancarlo, former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), joined Sygnum Bank as a senior advisor.

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Chalom's move to SharpLink aligns with this trend, leveraging his experience in forging BlackRock's partnerships with Nasdaq, Coinbase COIN, and Circle CRCL to advance SharpLink's Ethereum-centric strategy.

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