Grayscale CFO Edward McGee exits after 7 years with crypto asset manager
The Goldman Sachs veteran who helped steer Grayscale through its landmark ETF conversions is stepping down for personal reasons, with two interim co-CFOs taking the reins.
Edward McGee, the chief financial officer who guided Grayscale Investments through some of the most consequential years in crypto asset management, is leaving the firm. His resignation takes effect July 2, 2026, ending a roughly seven-year tenure that coincided with Grayscale’s evolution from a niche crypto trust operator into the sponsor behind some of the most heavily traded spot crypto ETFs in the US.
McGee cited personal reasons for stepping down and confirmed there were no disagreements with the company over operations, accounting, or policies.
Who’s filling the seat
Grayscale has appointed Kathryn Masci and Daniel Plourde as interim co-CFOs, effective immediately.
Masci has been with Grayscale since 2020, serving as Senior Vice President of Finance. Before that, she spent time in the audit trenches at Ernst & Young. She’ll also take on the title of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer.
Plourde brings over 20 years of treasury and fund administration experience from stints at State Street and Gabelli.
A broader leadership reshuffling
McGee’s departure arrives amid a wider leadership overhaul at Grayscale and its parent company, Digital Currency Group.
Peter Mintzberg replaced Michael Sonnenshein as CEO. That conversion of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot ETF, which finally happened in January 2024, was a consequential regulatory event in crypto asset management.
McGee joined Grayscale in 2019 after a career at Goldman Sachs, meaning he was present for the years of SEC rejections, the lawsuit against the regulator, the eventual approval, and the subsequent launch of additional products.
Multiple Grayscale products filed 8-K disclosures to inform investors of the leadership change. These included the Bitcoin Mini Trust and the Ethereum Staking Mini ETF, among others.
What this means for investors
Grayscale’s competitive position in the crypto ETF market has shifted dramatically since the spot Bitcoin ETF approvals. The firm once held a near-monopoly on institutional Bitcoin exposure through GBTC. That dominance has eroded as competitors like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust attracted significant inflows, in some cases at lower fee points.
Grayscale responded by launching lower-fee products like the Bitcoin Mini Trust, essentially creating a cheaper alternative to its own flagship fund.
New product filings, including vehicles targeting assets like Solana, are expanding the addressable market for crypto ETFs.