Sharplink Execs Champion Productive ETH Treasuries
At the Consensus Hong Kong 2026 conference on February 12, SharpLink Gaming (SBET) Chairman Joe Lubin and CEO Joseph Chalom presented a case for corporations to evolve their digital asset strategies. They advocated for the adoption of Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs), which treat ether (ETH) not as a passive investment but as productive financial infrastructure. This push comes after the stock prices of digital asset treasury companies, including SharpLink, have plunged from their highs in 2025, prompting executives to focus on long-term utility over short-term price action.
CEO Joseph Chalom stressed that the underlying fundamentals for Ethereum are stronger than ever, despite recent price weakness. He framed the sell-off as a typical macro de-risking event where liquid assets like ether are sold first. He pointed to institutional commitment as the key indicator for the future.
Listen to Larry Fink at Davos, when he’s telling you $14 trillion of BlackRock assets will be tokenized, and over 65% of that to date is happening on Ethereum.
— Joseph Chalom, CEO, SharpLink Gaming
Staking Yield of 3% Defines Strategy Beyond Price
The central pillar of SharpLink's argument is ether's ability to generate returns through staking. Joe Lubin, who is also CEO of Consensys, highlighted this feature as a key differentiator for corporate treasuries looking for productive assets. “Ether would be a much better asset… because it is a productive asset. It yields. It has a risk-free rate,” Lubin stated, referencing the staking returns of roughly 3%.
This strategy actively utilizes permanent capital, which Chalom contrasted with passive investment vehicles like ETFs that must provide daily liquidity. SharpLink has put this model into practice by staking nearly all of its own ether holdings. The company aims to participate in what Chalom terms “good institutional DeFi,” using long-term locked capital to secure risk-adjusted yields rather than chasing high-multiple venture-style returns. This, he argued, will ultimately help mature the DeFi ecosystem by improving its standards for institutional capital.
