Hiring Momentum Holds Steady

Crypto builders spent July poaching seasoned operators from Wall Street and Big Tech, plugging gaps in trading, revenue, legal, and growth ahead of a more regulated market cycle.
Open roles clustered around stablecoins, tokenized assets, DeFi, and on-chain infrastructure—with RWA platforms and NYDFS-regulated fintechs leading the charge.

Stablecoins & Tokenized Assets: The Talent Magnet

• Bastion bolstered its NYDFS-compliant stack with two heavyweights:
  – Vince Tejada (ex-Ripple, JPM, IBM) as Head of Finance & Strategic Finance.
  – Jared Klee (ex-Vouch, IBM Blockchain) as Head of Revenue.

• Veda and Stellar Development Foundation each added legal, growth, and marketing chiefs to ride the treasury-tokenization wave.

• Chainlink, NEAR, ReserveOne doubled down on ecosystem expansion and institutional messaging.

Regulatory Chairs in Motion

Washington’s revolving door spun just as fast:

• SEC requested PCAOB Chair Erica Williams’ resignation.

• Jonathan Gould (Jones Day) tapped as new Comptroller of the Currency.

Meanwhile, several crypto-native execs stepped back to advisory roles or quietly exited—signalling a slow but deliberate talent reshuffle as firms adapt to shifting compliance, market structure, and capital needs.

The Newest Names on the Door

Promotions & Sideways Moves

• PayPal: Frank Keller expands remit to lead all blockchain, crypto, and digital-currency initiatives.

• SharpLink: Rob Phythian transitions from CEO to President, remains on the board.

• Uniswap Labs: Mary-Catherine Lader steps from President & COO to Advisor while prepping new business lines.

Exits & Appointments in Washington

• Variant: Derek Walkush departs after three years to become COO at a portfolio company.

• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Jonathan Gould (Jones Day) named new Comptroller.

• PCAOB: Erica Williams steps down 22 July at SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ request.

Bottom Line

July’s talent map shows a sector professionalising at warp speed.
Traditional-finance operators are no longer dipping toes—they’re diving in, bringing compliance playbooks, treasury know-how, and institutional credibility.
For crypto natives, that means stiffer competition, but also a once-in-a-cycle chance to build the on-ramps that the next billion users will trust.

Hiring Momentum Holds Steady

Crypto builders spent July poaching seasoned operators from Wall Street and Big Tech, plugging gaps in trading, revenue, legal, and growth ahead of a more regulated market cycle.
Open roles clustered around stablecoins, tokenized assets, DeFi, and on-chain infrastructure—with RWA platforms and NYDFS-regulated fintechs leading the charge.

Stablecoins & Tokenized Assets: The Talent Magnet

• Bastion bolstered its NYDFS-compliant stack with two heavyweights:
  – Vince Tejada (ex-Ripple, JPM, IBM) as Head of Finance & Strategic Finance.
  – Jared Klee (ex-Vouch, IBM Blockchain) as Head of Revenue.

• Veda and Stellar Development Foundation each added legal, growth, and marketing chiefs to ride the treasury-tokenization wave.

• Chainlink, NEAR, ReserveOne doubled down on ecosystem expansion and institutional messaging.

Regulatory Chairs in Motion

Washington’s revolving door spun just as fast:

• SEC requested PCAOB Chair Erica Williams’ resignation.

• Jonathan Gould (Jones Day) tapped as new Comptroller of the Currency.

Meanwhile, several crypto-native execs stepped back to advisory roles or quietly exited—signalling a slow but deliberate talent reshuffle as firms adapt to shifting compliance, market structure, and capital needs.

The Newest Names on the Door

Promotions & Sideways Moves

• PayPal: Frank Keller expands remit to lead all blockchain, crypto, and digital-currency initiatives.

• SharpLink: Rob Phythian transitions from CEO to President, remains on the board.

• Uniswap Labs: Mary-Catherine Lader steps from President & COO to Advisor while prepping new business lines.

Exits & Appointments in Washington

• Variant: Derek Walkush departs after three years to become COO at a portfolio company.

• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Jonathan Gould (Jones Day) named new Comptroller.

• PCAOB: Erica Williams steps down 22 July at SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ request.

Bottom Line

July’s talent map shows a sector professionalising at warp speed.
Traditional-finance operators are no longer dipping toes—they’re diving in, bringing compliance playbooks, treasury know-how, and institutional credibility.
For crypto natives, that means stiffer competition, but also a once-in-a-cycle chance to build the on-ramps that the next billion users will trust.