Messari CEO Eric Turner Steps Down as Firm Pivots to AI

Steady attention without excessive speculation.

Turner confirmed the move in a post on X, calling it “the right decision for the company’s next phase.” He said he would continue supporting Messari as an advisor. Li also posted on X, outlining plans to double down on AI-powered research products for institutional clients.

This marks Messari’s second CEO change in under two years, following founder Ryan Selkis’ controversial resignation in July 2024.

What Turner and Li Said

Turner described the decision as difficult but necessary. In his statement, he thanked the team he worked with over the past eight years and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help build Messari from its early days.

“It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work with such an extraordinary group of people,” Turner wrote on X. He also acknowledged that the transition included saying goodbye to many employees.

Li framed the change as a strategic move agreed upon with Turner and the board. He said Messari would focus on serving institutions through research and AI products going forward.

“We’re doubling down on Messari as an AI-first company serving institutions through research and AI products,” Li wrote. He also offered to help connect laid-off employees with teams that are hiring.

Layoffs Accompany the Messari CEO Transition

Both Turner and Li referenced significant staff reductions in their announcements. Li described the cuts as parting ways with “many teammates,” though neither specified the exact number of positions eliminated.

This is not the first round of layoffs at Messari. The company reportedly cut about 15% of its workforce in 2025, according to posts from industry observer @ashishknows on X.

The layoffs align with a broader trend across the crypto industry. Several firms have restructured their teams while repositioning around AI capabilities over the past year.

Messari’s Turbulent Leadership History

Messari was founded in 2018 by Ryan Selkis as a crypto market intelligence platform. The company provides research reports, market data, and governance tools. It also hosts the annual Mainnet conference in New York, one of the industry’s most recognized events.

In 2022, Messari raised $21 million in a funding round led by Galaxy Digital, which valued the company at $300 million. That valuation reflected a very different market environment than the one the firm navigates today.

Selkis resigned as CEO in July 2024 after backlash over posts on X that advocated political violence and promoted conspiracy theories related to the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump. He said at the time that he would focus on crypto policy and national issues, as Decrypt reported.

Turner, who served as Chief Revenue Officer at the time, was then appointed interim Messari CEO. He had joined the company in its early stages and played a central role in building its research team, products, and customer relationships.

Two Very Different Leadership Profiles

Turner’s background is rooted in traditional finance. Before Messari, he worked as a financial technology research analyst at S&P Global and held roles at Fidelity Investments and Prudential. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Li comes from a technology-first background. He previously worked at Palantir, where he built enterprise analytical platforms, and spent time at Microsoft. He also worked as a blockchain engineer before joining Messari as CTO.

The shift from Turner to Li reflects Messari’s stated pivot. Moving from a sales and research-driven leader to a product and engineering-focused one signals a deeper commitment to the AI-first strategy Li outlined.

Industry Reactions to the Messari CEO Change

Chinese crypto outlet Wu Blockchain reported on the handover and accompanying layoffs. Industry observer @ashishknows highlighted the AI pivot and noted Messari’s past $300 million valuation.

Former Messari analyst @defi_monk, who left the company in July 2025, praised both the company and Turner in a separate post. His comments suggested positive internal sentiment during Turner’s tenure.

Community member @irlrmj offered to help connect laid-off Messari employees with hiring teams, reflecting a common pattern in crypto industry layoffs where the community rallies to support displaced workers.

What Comes Next for Messari

Under Li’s leadership, Messari plans to focus squarely on AI-powered products for institutional clients. The company’s core offerings of research, data, and governance tools will likely be reshaped around that vision.

As of March 17, 2026, Messari’s official website still listed Turner as CEO and Li as CTO. The company had not yet published a formal press release or blog post about the transition.

Whether the AI-first pivot can revitalize a company that has faced leadership instability and repeated layoffs remains an open question. For now, Messari enters its next chapter with a new leader, a leaner team, and a bet on artificial intelligence.