War for Crypto Talent: As Digital Assets Enter the Mainstream, Career Landscape Shifts [Crypto Briefing]

[Financial News] As virtual assets move rapidly into the regulatory mainstream, talent flows between traditional finance and the crypto industry are accelerating. Former executives from major domestic and global asset managers, securities firms, and law firms are emerging as key players in digital asset strategy, reshaping the sector’s talent landscape. In particular, since the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its new interpretive guidance, securing crypto specialists has become a core source of competitive advantage for companies.
According to industry sources on the 24th, heavyweight figures from traditional finance overseas are already steering crypto companies. One prominent example is Joseph Chalom, who spent 20 years at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, where he helped lead the launch of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As CEO of SharpLink, he now oversees Ethereum-based digital asset treasury strategies (DAT).
Rob Shearer, formerly of Goldman Sachs, has also moved to Paradex as chief commercial officer (CCO), bringing traditional finance expertise into the crypto market. Their moves suggest that virtual assets have evolved from speculative instruments into core holdings within institutional investors’ portfolios.
Talent shifts are also becoming visible in Korea’s capital markets. Lim Min-ho, a senior researcher who worked as a virtual asset analyst at Shinyoung Securities, recently joined the Digital Asset Business Team at Mirae Asset Securities as a senior manager. His move aligns with Mirae Asset’s new management strategy, including its acquisition of a stake in Korbit. Mirae Asset Securities has stated that it aims to "lead the paradigm shift in the global financial industry, where traditional and digital assets converge," and is building the infrastructure and systems that will underpin the digital asset business ecosystem.
Meritz Securities has likewise hired Kanghee Hong as head of strategic planning for new businesses, including virtual assets. Hong previously led investment and platform strategy at Hashed, a leading blockchain venture capital firm in Korea.
The legal sector is also moving quickly. Lee & Ko, in particular, is taking one of the most aggressive approaches to recruitment, centering its efforts around the Blockchain Law Society of Korea. The firm recently strengthened its expertise by assigning key figures such as attorney Seo-Hee Han to its dedicated virtual asset team. Han has advised the Financial Services Commission (FSC) on virtual asset issues and is known as a capital markets law specialist who has helped design major regulatory frameworks, including Korea’s Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users. Observers say this is a preemptive response to surging demand for regulatory advice following the law’s enforcement, as well as to potential domestic regulatory changes triggered by the SEC’s latest guidance.
The Blockchain Law Society of Korea will in fact hold an emergency seminar on the 31st to discuss the SEC’s guidance titled "Application of Federal Securities Laws to Crypto Assets and Related Transactions." At the event, Lee & Ko attorney Ju Seong-hwan will deliver the main presentation, offering a detailed analysis of how the guidance could affect Korea’s virtual asset regulatory framework.
Experts say this wave of talent movement reflects a structural transformation of the industry, rather than a passing trend. A source in the virtual asset sector noted, "When officials from bodies such as the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) move to virtual asset exchanges, and major law firms build expert groups in partnership with academic societies, it is powerful evidence that digital assets have clearly entered the institutional mainstream."

elikim@fnnews.com Kim Mi-hee Reporter