- Messari co-founder and CEO Ryan Selkis has stepped down following a series of inflammatory tweets calling for violence against opponents of Donald Trump.
- Selkis announced his resignation today, citing the potential harm his political rhetoric could bring to the company and its employees.
- Selkis’ departure comes after a tweet in which he stated, “Everyone voting against Trump can die in a damn fire,” drew massive backlash and was swiftly deleted.
Messari’s CEO Resigns Amid Controversial Tweets Calling for Violence Against Trump Opponents
Ryan Selkis Steps Down as CEO After Provocative Social Media Posts
Messari’s co-founder and CEO, Ryan Selkis, has announced his resignation, following a series of provocative tweets in which he called for violence against Donald Trump’s detractors. The decision was made public today with Selkis acknowledging that his political commentary might be detrimental to the company’s integrity and its employees’ well-being. In an email, Selkis expressed his regrets stating, “This week marks the first time in 6.5 years that my political positions and discourse have harmed my team.”
The Aftermath of Inflammatory Tweets
Despite stepping down from his CEO role, Selkis will continue to serve Messari as a senior advisor, focusing on long-term strategy. Messari, a leading crypto analytics firm, was valued at approximately $300 million after its last funding round in 2022. Eric Turner, the company’s Chief Revenue Officer, has been appointed as the interim CEO. Selkis, a vocal Trump supporter and significant figure in fundraising for pro-crypto politicians, had been attempting to soften his rhetoric in recent weeks. However, his inflammatory statements following a violent incident at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on July 13th drew sharp criticism and backlash.
Impact on Messari and the Crypto Community
Messari operates as a decentralized crypto data library that provides funding and disclosure services to researchers, investors, and regulators within the crypto asset community. The controversy surrounding Selkis’ comments has raised concerns about the intersection of personal politics and professional responsibilities, particularly in a volatile sector like cryptocurrency. Crypto experts argue that such political interjections could undermine confidence in a company’s impartiality and strategic vision.
Corporate Governance and Future Outlook
With Eric Turner now at the helm, it is anticipated that Messari will steer towards a more apolitical and stable governance structure. The company’s leadership transition aims to reassure stakeholders and maintain its reputation as a neutral and reliable source of crypto analytics. Moving forward, Turner is expected to uphold Messari’s commitment to providing high-quality financial data and analytics while navigating through the challenges posed by Selkis’ controversial exit.
Conclusion
Ryan Selkis’ resignation underscores the significant impact that personal conduct and social media presence can have on professional roles, especially in high-stakes industries like cryptocurrency. As Messari repositions itself under new leadership, the main takeaway is a reinforcement of the principle that corporate leaders must carefully balance personal beliefs with their professional responsibilities to preserve the integrity and trust of their companies.
