Messari’s pro-Trump CEO Ryan Selkis steps down after controversial tweets — here’s what happened

How did Ryan Selkis’ tweets go from personal grievances to staunch political statements and, ultimately, his exit?

Messari founder and former CEO Ryan Selkis has abruptly resigned following a series of provocative and controversial tweets that rocked the crypto community.

Selkis, who announced his decision on July 19, resigned following intense public backlash, citing a desire to focus on crypto policy and national issues. Selkis’ sudden exit leaves Messari at a crossroads, with Chief Revenue Officer Eric Turner taking over as interim CEO.

Selkis, known for his sharp views on the crypto world, has previously caused a storm on social media, but this latest incident took things to a whole new level and eventually led to his resignation.

Selkis’ latest outburst comes in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, which prompted a series of angry tweets.

The content of Selkis’ tweets ranged from personal grievances to harsh political statements, and caused a huge uproar in the crypto community.

On July 18, Selkis tweeted about a “tough love” session with Messari’s leadership. In his tweet, he expressed gratitude to those who approached him with good intentions to rein him in.

I had a wonderful “tough love” session with Messari leadership and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate people who approached me with good intentions and helped me rein them in because they knew my vision and where my heart was.

I’ve been running a lot this week, I’ll cover that in more detail soon.

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) July 18, 2024

Citing internal tensions at Messari, he admitted he had “gotten very heated” and vowed to fully address the situation as soon as possible.

The next day, on July 19, Selkis publicly apologized, acknowledging her anger and speaking of her admiration for President Trump, who had been deeply affected by her near-death experience after a decade of hatred.

I apologize for being angry last weekend.

I have seen enough of President Trump to love him and his sacrifice.

After seeing the result of 10 years of hatred almost costing him his life, I overdid it a bit.

We will win with character, strength and non-violence.

No hard feelings, Molly. https://t.co/9kgBx0LfnH

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) July 19, 2024

Let’s dive deeper into the drama and understand what Selkis said and how the situation ultimately led to her exit.

Here’s how it all began and how it all ended

With over 354,000 followers on Twitter (X), Selkis is a prominent figure on crypto Twitter, and has been instrumental in bringing crypto to the forefront of the 2024 elections through a carefully crafted playbook.

He also played a key role in strengthening the super PAC FairShake, which has raised millions of dollars to support pro-crypto candidates.

Selkis’ deep connections with influential figures like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and venture capitalist Fred Ehrsam, along with support from heavyweights like Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital and angel investor Balaji Srinivasan, solidify his position in the crypto community.

Selkis is no stranger to controversy. He is known for his outspoken and often provocative words, once labeling national leaders as “cowards.”

I have four children and I have proposed a compromise that could stop the country from being destroyed.

I do this as a CEO because our national leaders are cowards.

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) June 6, 2024

He also repeatedly directed his anger at U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler and made other accusations against him.

Here’s a reminder of why we need to slow down and fix FIT 21 before it passes the Senate:

Gary Gensler was a mouse at the helm of the post-financial crisis CFTC before the SEC became our rival. https://t.co/7eL6A3ne0d

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) June 1, 2024

The latest storm surrounding Selkis began after an attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life, following which Selkis took to Twitter with a series of inflammatory posts.

“Anyone who votes against Trump at this point can die in flames,” he tweeted, later deleting the post.

He also said, “The Civil War for the country began today, and if you’re against Trump, you’re against men who are willing to fight. Good luck.” This rhetoric continued with tweets advocating self-defense and violence.

“Bolshevism cannot be cured by votes. We must eradicate, by force if necessary, the metastatic cancer and evil of the left. That is why the Second Amendment is and has been so important. Do not begin with violence, but if brought to your door, finish with violence.”

Selkis’s provocative narrative did not end there. He escalated his rhetoric further, arguing that unity could only come after a decisive victory, and compared the current moment to major historical conflicts in 1776, 1860, and 1942.

“I pray for peace. I prepare for war,” he tweeted, blending his call for peace with a stern preparation for conflict.

And the saga continued…

The debate escalated after a Twitter user named AdrianoFeria.eth criticized Selkis’ inflammatory statements, accusing him of encouraging dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.

This is the kind of inflammatory, self-destructive rhetoric that any enemy of the United States would love to see.

So who exactly is the civil war between?

This crazy talk is for those who have the privilege of living in the United States and have never been involved in serious social… picture.twitter.com/Rr3IrfKbaP

— AdrianoFeria.eth 🦇🔊 🛡️ (@AdrianoFeria) July 15, 2024

He described Selkis’ comments about possible civil war and violence as “inflammatory” and “anti-American” and called for a more measured approach in addressing political tensions.

Selkis’ response was far from measured, calling AdrianoFeria.eth’s criticism the “dumbest” one he’d ever seen and questioning the user’s American identity.

This has to be the stupidest review I’ve made in the last 48 hours, and that includes Canadian Cochran’s tantrums.

I am completely focused on solving problems in this country, and I am engaged in this information war more than almost any other business leader in the country right now.

ATTACK. https://t.co/32FVJOPG04

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) July 15, 2024

Selkis tweeted, “Are you American?” implying that AdrianoFeria.eth’s immigration status disqualifies him from commenting on American politics. He also reiterated, “If Trump is assassinated, we will have a Civil War in the US.”

1. Are you American?

2. Don’t forget to tag me if you want to interact.

3. If Trump is assassinated, there will be a civil war in the USA

4. I am fully aware of the risks I take and the importance of taking them.

5. I prefer information wars to physical wars.

— Ryan Selkis (d/acc) 🇺🇸 (@twobitidiot) July 15, 2024

The situation escalated further when Selkis learned that AdrianoFeria.eth was a green card holder who was about to apply for citizenship, to which Selkis replied, “I hope we send you back. … You do not qualify for citizenship. I hope it stays that way.”

Comparing Trump’s assassin to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Trump used the term “physiognomy” to imply physical resemblance, which made many extremely uncomfortable.

Backlash against Selkis reached new heights after Mask CEO Suji Yan publicly condemned Selkis’ behavior, announcing that Mask would halt all potential deals with Messari and advising partners to reconsider their relationship.

This is moronic. I will be pausing all potential deals with Messari and stopping all of their events. I will also be advising our partners and portfolio companies to think twice about partnering with them. https://t.co/s1ZYwUZeAi

— Suji Yan – Mask BUIDLing (@suji_yan) July 18, 2024

Yan’s move was supported by other users who vowed to stay away from Messari and criticized Selkis for her hateful remarks.

This is so ridiculous, I had to check to make sure the post was real.

Yes, I will not be dealing with Messari again. He is free to say whatever he wants, but he cannot support someone who hates so many people.

— Otsukimi (@OtsukimiCrypto) July 19, 2024

Make crypto great again?

As the days tick by towards the 2024 elections, the political drama is heating up. Advocates for various candidates are pushing their own agendas, and the stakes have never been higher. Whether it’s political leaders, supporters, or industry insiders, everyone seems to be in it for their own personal gain.

Meanwhile, Trump’s changing stance on cryptocurrencies, combined with the SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January and now spot Ethereum ETFs, has set the stage for a crypto-centric election.

In the midst of this, figures like Ryan Selkis and others have been busy pushing their own agendas, whether it’s the limelight, personal gain, or genuine belief in their cause. Selkis’ recent resignation amid the controversy further adds to the tension and uncertainty in the crypto space.

Does everyone truly stand by their beliefs, or is it all about gaining power and influence? The lines have blurred, and the only certainty is that cryptocurrencies are playing an increasing role in this political drama.