SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET), the largest institutional Ethereum ($ETH) corporate owner and staunch blockchain technology institutional adoption advocate, announced today it has hired Joseph Chalom as Co-Chief Executive Officer.
With 20 years of experience at BlackRock and as a fintech industry expert, Chalom assumed his position on July 24, 2025.
While at BlackRock, Chalom was a pioneer in cutting-edge initiatives in the realm of digital assets, including the listing of the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), the largest Ethereum-focused ETF with over $10 billion in assets under management.
The appointment is considered a strategic win for SharpLink in maintaining its efforts to make Ethereum the basis of global financial infrastructure.
Rob Phythian, existing CEO at SharpLink, will transition into a President role while remaining on the firm’s board.
Chalom’s Vision for Ethereum and SharpLink’s Role in Financial Transformation
Joseph Chalom’s addition to SharpLink emphasizes his firm belief in the potential of Ethereum and decentralized finance to revolutionize.
In a press release, Chalom expressed his commitment to building the financial framework of the future through aligning the strategic vision of SharpLink with the Ethereum network.
He praised the firm’s bold vision and added that he was excited to be enhancing Ethereum’s potential within traditional and decentralized economies.
The appointment of Chalom as CEO is an “overwhelming endorsement” of SharpLink’s ETH-centric strategy, Ethereum Co-Founder Joseph Lubin and SharpLink Chairman said.
It is another huge leap toward realizing their dream of building the world’s most trusted Ethereum treasury.
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Institutional Prowess and Industry Credibility Come to SharpLink
Having Chalom on board adds leading institutional talent to SharpLink at a pivotal time.
As Head of Strategic Ecosystem Partnerships and Managing Director at BlackRock, he oversaw deals with Coinbase, BNY Mellon, Circle, Nasdaq, and Anchorage Digital Bank.
These partnerships were key to driving BlackRock’s entry into crypto and product innovation in digital finance.
Chalom was also interim Deputy COO and COO of BlackRock Solutions, the business segment that stands behind the Aladdin platform, which is widely employed to handle portfolio and risk management across the financial services sector.
His deep background in institutional finance and adoption of digital assets positions SharpLink to be able to capitalize on Ethereum’s growing role in global markets.
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SharpLink Strengthens Ethereum Strategy with Record Holdings, Market Momentum
Chalom’s appointment follows a strong wave of momentum for SharpLink that came earlier in July when it became the largest known corporate holder of ETH after acquiring 360,807 tokens into its treasury, surpassing the Ethereum Foundation.
The strategic accumulation, including the purchase of 10,000 ETH from the Ethereum Foundation directly via OTC, has translated to over $81 million worth of unrealized gains.
The news helped drive SharpLink’s share price upward by over 17%, a testament to increasing investor confidence.
As Ethereum ETF inflows grow and institutional buying gathers momentum, SharpLink’s bold ETH strategy, now under the guidance of Chalom, positions it as a giant in both mainstream finance and crypto.
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