Vanguard Said Set to Name Bitcoin-Friendly Ex-BlackRock Exec as CEO: WSJ

Salim Ramji departed from BlackRock in January, expressing his intention to pursue a fresh leadership role or entrepreneurial project outside the company. This decision followed closely on the heels of BlackRock’s introduction of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Ramji played a significant part in handling the filing and logistical aspects for this new product according to Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

As a researcher, I came across a statement where it was mentioned that the upcoming CEO has expressed an interest in digital assets, but I’m uncertain if this will influence Vanguard’s current stance. Regardless, the door for further exploration seems more open to me.

The unexpected selection has generated buzz on social media, with some speculating that Vanguard could be shifting its position on bitcoin despite its past criticism of the cryptocurrency, following Ramji’s acknowledged involvement in the sector.

As a crypto investor, I’m thrilled about the technology that drives Bitcoin and blockchain. It holds immense promise for streamlining processes and eliminating frictions across the board. The underlying mechanisms are incredibly compelling to me and ignited my fascination with this space.

Should this be true, it would represent a novel development as Vanguard has yet to recruit an external CEO in its history.