Crypto•11 February 2026•
1 min read

JPMorgan Blockchain Co-Head Naveen Mallela Departs Amid Digital Asset Push

Naveen Mallela, the global co-head of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s blockchain division, Kinexys, has departed the bank. His exit follows over a decade of service at JPMorgan, where he was appointed to his current role in 2024. The departure comes as the financial giant intensifies its strategic expansion efforts in digital-asset payments. Mallela's leadership was central to the Kinexys initiative, focusing on leveraging blockchain technology for various financial applications. While a notable internal personnel change, analysts suggest this move is unlikely to have a significant immediate market impact on JPMorgan's overall operations. The bank continues its focus on innovation within the digital asset space despite the leadership transition.