Ryan Selkis Faces Backlash for Controversial Social Media Posts After Trump Assassination Attempt

Ryan Selkis Sparks Controversy with Fiery Social Media Posts

Ryan Selkis, the founder and CEO of Messari, a prominent crypto data platform, is known for his unfiltered opinions on social media. He frequently critiques figures such as Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, providing no shortage of fiery commentary. However, his recent remarks following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump have raised eyebrows even among his followers. Colleagues at Messari, a company with financial backing from heavyweight firms like Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital and Brevan Howard, reportedly urged him to dial back his rhetoric.

In a candid post on X (formerly Twitter), Selkis expressed gratitude for the feedback he received from Messari leadership: “Just had a terrific ‘tough love’ session with Messari leadership, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate people who approach me in good faith and help rein me in because they know my vision and where my heart is,” he stated. He acknowledged that he had been overly passionate in his recent posts, adding, “I ran too hot this week, and will address that in full soon.”

What prompted this reflection? Selkis appeared particularly incensed following the attempt on Trump’s life. As of Thursday, he had made his tweets private, although they remained visible to his approximately 354,000 followers. In a particularly incendiary tweet posted shortly after the shooting, he proclaimed: “Anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a f*cking fire. Literal war.” This post has since been removed but was emblematic of his heated response. He further declared, “The Civil War for the country started today, and if you are anti-Trump you are against the men who are willing to fight. Good luck.”

The next day, Selkis continued to focus on themes of violence and self-defense. He tweeted: “Bolshevism cannot be cured with votes. We must excise the metastatic cancer and evil of the left, by force if necessary. This is why the Second Amendment was and is so important. Do not initiate violence, but if it’s brought to your door, finish with violence.” He likened the current state of affairs to historical conflicts, stating, “Unfortunately, unity can sometimes only be achieved after a decisive victory. This is one of those moments.” He referenced pivotal moments in American history, noting, “The previous three were in 1776, 1860, and 1942. Praying for peace. Preparing for war.”

Selkis also embraced the anti-immigration rhetoric often found within the MAGA movement. In a conversation with a user on X, he queried whether they were “a citizen or just a green card holder?” When the user revealed their status as a green card holder preparing to apply for citizenship, Selkis responded bluntly: “I hope we send you back… You are not entitled to citizenship. I hope it stays that way.”

In a disturbing display, Selkis shared images of a bloodied Trump from the aftermath of the shooting. Accompanying these visuals was a famous photo of then-President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden during the operation that eliminated Osama bin Laden. Beneath the images, he commented, “Too true.” He targeted Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a notable critic of the crypto industry, by juxtaposing her image with that of Trump’s would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. He provocatively asked, “Are you happy that Trump is still alive? Or disappointed to have missed your shot in taking out a ‘dictator who will destroy democracy.’ Physiognomy doesn’t lie …” The use of the term “physiognomy” was an apparent attempt to suggest a physical similarity between the two.

In response to a tweet from SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Selkis taunted, “We’re so close to your inevitable jail sentence, I can almost taste it.” When approached by a CoinDesk journalist for further comments regarding his recent posts, Selkis chose not to elaborate.

This type of online behavior is atypical for a CEO, especially one backed by significant venture capital. Nonetheless, such brashness is not uncommon among the crypto community on social media platforms, especially given the provocative nature of X’s owner, Elon Musk.

Messari plays a crucial role in the cryptocurrency landscape, providing users with tools to monitor and analyze digital asset data. Selkis has emerged as a significant figure in the industry’s efforts to regain influence in Washington after the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, who previously wielded considerable power.

Earlier this year, Selkis was seen alongside Trump at the former president’s NFT gala at Mar-a-Lago. Following his initial “tough love” tweet, he continued to express his thoughts, stating: “I sent tweets aggressively screaming from the rooftops about self-defense and taking the current political situation more seriously than the media does. You’ve been warned. I wish haters spent the same effort protecting kids, preventing war, and defending American values.” He added, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. I got knocked down from a punch I didn’t see coming. Good. Fewer tweets. More long form. More channeled rage, but same mindset: OFFENSE.”

Michelle Bloom contributed to this story.