Ark Invest’s Digital Assets Head Yassine Elmandjra Leaves the Firm

Ark Invest’s now-former director of digital assets Yassine Elmandjra announced on Wednesday that he is leaving the firm after six and a half years.

He tweeted his appreciation to Cathie Wood, Ark Invest’s founder, and the team for the shared experiences and memories. However, he has not yet revealed his next career move.

Before joining ARK in July 2018, Yassine Elmandjra gained experience in the investment industry, his LinkedIn profile shows. He first worked as an analyst at Arena Investors, which offers financing solutions to borrowers lacking access to traditional funding.

Later, he worked as an analyst at Rembrandt Venture Partners, focusing on early-stage venture capital in the SaaS sector.

Taking the baton from @cburniske who brilliantly put @ARKInvest on the crypto map, @yassine_elman blazed the trail and built one of the best crypto teams in our industry. I will miss Yassine and his brilliant mind day to day, but look forward to supporting his next big chapter! https://t.co/QWreQwLO67

— Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) January 8, 2025

While at ARK, Elmandjra became a prominent voice in the crypto and blockchain space. He spoke at major events, such as The Fidelity Mining Summit, and featured on popular crypto podcasts, including Marty Bent’s “Tales from the Crypt,” Laura Shin’s “Unchained” and Anthony Pompliano’s “Off The Chain.”

ARK Invest Pushes Crypto Education, Calls for US Leadership in Blockchain Innovation

Cathie Wood founded ARK Invest in 2014, establishing it as a top global asset management firm focused on thematic investing. The company targets disruptive technologies that have the potential to transform industries and drive long-term economic growth.

Since 2014, ARK has actively focused on crypto research, initially led by blockchain expert Chris Burniske. Burniske spearheaded ARK’s entry into the crypto research space.

While he was still around, ARK became the first public fund manager to invest in Bitcoin in 2015, establishing its early presence in the market.

ARK aims to educate investors on the benefits and risks of digital asset investments through its reports. It also promotes broader recognition of cryptocurrency as a legitimate asset class.

In December, founder Cathie Wood warned that the US was close to losing its edge in the crypto space before Donald Trump’s reelection.

“We drove a lot of talent away from the United States. We think that’s going to change with a focus on crypto and AI,” she told CNN’s Inside Politics Sunday.