Vanguard hires digital assets strategy chief

• Vanguard is recruiting a head of digital assets to oversee its strategy for tokenisation, stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure.
• The role marks a shift for the asset manager after years of resisting cryptocurrency investment products.
• The company will assess client-facing digital asset products while expanding its engagement with regulators and the broader industry.

Vanguard is hiring a head of digital assets to lead its strategy for tokenisation, stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, custody models and client-facing digital asset products.

The appointment marks a change in direction after Vanguard chief executive Salim Ramji said in August 2024 that the firm would not launch cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds despite growing investor demand for spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) ETFs.

According to the job description, the successful candidate will determine how Vanguard participates in digital assets, including evaluating blockchain-based settlement, tokenisation, stablecoins and engagement with regulators, clients and industry groups.

Vanguard manages approximately US$12.5 trillion in global assets, and no share price reaction was available because the company is privately owned.

The recruitment comes as tokenised real-world assets have grown to approximately US$33.5 billion, including US$14.9 billion in tokenised US Treasury products, according to RWA.xyz.

Other asset managers have expanded their tokenisation strategies, with Franklin Templeton managing about US$2.5 billion in tokenised assets, BlackRock overseeing roughly US$2.3 billion and Fidelity launching a blockchain-based liquidity fund in 2026.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $63,473.14.