Messari CEO Resigns After Controversial Pro-Donald Trump Tweets

Ryan Selkis, CEO of Messari, resigns after posting controversial tweets supporting Donald Trump, highlighting the impact of personal opinions on professional roles.

Points

• Messari CEO Ryan Selkis resigns after controversial tweets.
• Selkis transitions to a Senior Advisor role.
• Eric Turner assumes the CEO position.
• Selkis’s tweets sparked backlash from the crypto community.
• The incident highlights the importance of political neutrality in professional settings.

Ryan Selkis, a prominent figure in the crypto industry and CEO of Messari—a leading crypto research platform—has resigned following several controversial tweets supporting Donald Trump. On July 19, Selkis stepped down from his role at Messari, citing that his “politics and rhetoric put the team in harm’s way.”

Why Messari CEO’s Strong Trump Backing Led to His Resignation

Selkis, known as twobitidiot on social media platform X, will transition to a Senior Advisor role, focusing on the company’s long-term strategy. The former Chief Revenue Officer, Eric Turner, will now assume the CEO position.

“Eric has been with us since Day 1, and helped build our research team from scratch, build some of our foundational products and most recently managed our sales and marketing functions. He truly has done it all,” Selkis wrote.

Over the past week, Selkis has faced backlash from the crypto community over his political statements. He posted several incendiary comments after a failed assassination attempt on Trump, which included harsh remarks toward those opposing Trump. In one such post, he tweeted that “anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a fucking fire.”

While Selkis apologized for those comments, he defended his position in his resignation letter. He expressed horror at the failed assassination attempt and criticized the media and Biden administration’s response.

“[I] have been disgusted at the media and administration’s abject failures at pressing for answers in the attack’s aftermath, as well as their failure to tamp down the divisive rhetoric that contributed to the attack in the first place,” Selkis stated.

Market experts pointed out that Selkis’s political rhetoric reflects the importance of this electoral cycle for the emerging industry. Several crypto stakeholders—including Gemini twin co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood, and billionaire Elon Musk—support a Trump presidency.

Former President Trump has recently taken a more supportive stance on cryptocurrency. He pledged to back the industry and end the Biden administration’s “war on crypto” if re-elected in November.

However, skeptics like BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes argue that Trump’s pro-crypto stance is merely a tactic to win votes. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also cautioned against supporting politicians solely based on their pro-crypto statements, emphasizing the importance of decentralization and freedom in the crypto space.

“The point of all this is to contextualize the mentality that created blockchains and cryptocurrency in the first place: freedom is important, decentralized networks are good at protecting freedom, and money is an important sphere where such networks can be applied – but it’s one important sphere among several,” Buterin stated.

解説

• The resignation of Ryan Selkis from Messari underscores the significant impact that personal opinions and political statements can have on professional roles and corporate reputation. In the highly interconnected and public world of social media, leaders in any industry must navigate their personal and professional expressions carefully.
• The transition of Eric Turner to the CEO position reflects Messari’s commitment to continuity and stability. Turner’s extensive experience within the company positions him well to lead during this transitional period.
• Selkis’s departure highlights a broader discussion within the crypto community about the intersection of politics and technology. As the industry matures, the political affiliations and statements of its leaders can influence public perception and regulatory environments.
• The varying stances on Trump’s crypto policies reflect the diverse opinions within the industry. While some see potential benefits, others remain cautious about aligning too closely with any political figure. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balanced and neutral stance to preserve the integrity and focus of technological innovation.