The cryptocurrency business is mourning the tragic and surprising passing of Nathan Allman, the founding father of the outstanding real-world asset (RWA) tokenization protocol Ondo Finance.
There was an outpouring of grief and tributes from main figures throughout the cryptocurrency business, together with executives from Ripple and Bitget.
A visionary in DeFi and TradFi
Ondo Finance confirmed Allman’s loss of life in a heartfelt assertion earlier at this time. The assertion is targeted on his profound influence on the corporate and the combination of conventional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi).
The agency additionally introduced that it had undergone an instantaneous management transition. Ian De Bode, the agency’s longtime President, will now step into the function of CEO.
Persevering with to construct what Allman began is “probably the most significant manner we all know to honor him,” Ondo Finance pressured.
Paying tributes
David Schwartz, Chief Expertise Officer Emeritus at Ripple, expressed his gratitude for the chance to work alongside Allman.
“I’ve had the pleasure of assembly Nathan, and he was really a considerate builder and chief on this business,” Schwartz said on X. “We had been grateful for the chance to work with him and for his partnership. Our ideas are along with his household and your complete Ondo group.”
I’ve had the pleasure of assembly Nathan, and he was really a considerate builder and chief on this business. We had been grateful for the chance to work with him and for his partnership. Our ideas are along with his household and your complete Ondo group. https://t.co/WagXaBRRe5
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) Could 26, 2026
Ondo just lately accomplished a significant institutional pilot on the XRP Ledger.
Gracy Chen, CEO of the crypto change Bitget, shared a touching private anecdote about assembly Allman earlier than the launch of the ONDO token in 2023.
She recalled recognizing his immense potential as a Wall Road veteran who was additionally extremely educated about crypto.
“Over the following two years, we achieved a lot collectively,” Chen wrote. “In his afterlife, I prefer to suppose he’s nonetheless envisioning how TradFi and DeFi can work collectively.”
