Grayscale Appoints Barry Silbert as Chairman Ahead of IPO Plans
Barry Silbert has returned as chairman of Grayscale Investments following a confidential IPO filing in the US. He replaces Mark Shifke, who will remain on the board. This leadership change aligns with Grayscale's initiative to add independent directors for improved governance.
New Executive Team at Grayscale
Grayscale appointed four executives with backgrounds in traditional finance:
- Diana Zhang - Chief Operating Officer
- Ramona Boston - Chief Marketing Officer
- Andrea Williams - Chief Communications Officer
- Maxwell Rosenthal - Chief Human Resources Officer
These new hires come from firms such as Bridgewater and Goldman Sachs, reporting to CEO Peter Mintzberg.
Silbert's return follows regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges faced by his parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), related to the collapse of Genesis and connections to Gemini. He expressed confidence in Grayscale's future and its leadership.
Grayscale manages over $35 billion in various crypto investment products, including Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Earlier, DCG settled with the SEC for $38 million over misleading investor allegations. The New York Attorney General has also sued DCG regarding a crypto lending program, alleging fraud against 29,000 New Yorkers involving $1.1 billion in concealed losses.
