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Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joins NEAR Foundation Council

Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Solana infrastructure provider Helius, has joined the governing council of the NEAR Foundation to advise on product strategy, privacy, and cross-chain growth.

Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz seated on a stage panel wearing a black shirt and white pants.
Image: @Crypto_Briefing

Mert Mumtaz, the CEO of Solana infrastructure firm Helius, has joined the NEAR Foundation Council, the governing body responsible for overseeing the foundation and its highest-level decisions, according to reports from The Block and Bankless. NEAR Protocol announced the appointment on X, highlighting Mumtaz as an operator and early user of NEAR Intents who will contribute to how the network develops.[8][7][3]

In his new post, Mumtaz will help direct product strategy, ecosystem growth, and governance as NEAR expands its private onchain and cross-chain market initiatives, according to Crypto Banter and MSB Intel. Commenting on the move, Mumtaz advocated for cross-ecosystem alignment, stating that neither Solana, Zcash, nor Bitcoin can win independently and that connected liquidity is required at planetary scale. Crypto Banter also reported that Mumtaz will serve as a judge for an upcoming NEAR Hackathon, adding that NEAR Intents has processed more than $33 billion in volume.[1][6][3][2]

While Mumtaz's dual presence in both Solana and NEAR ecosystems could encourage closer technical and liquidity collaboration, Crypto Briefing reported that the appointment could also prompt scrutiny over impartial governance and community trust.[5]

Key facts

  • Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Solana infrastructure firm Helius, has joined the governing NEAR Foundation Council.
  • The NEAR Foundation Council serves as the governing body overseeing the foundation and its major decisions.
  • Mumtaz will help direct product strategy, ecosystem growth, and governance to advance onchain privacy and cross-chain liquidity.
  • NEAR Intents, which Mumtaz used early on, has processed more than $33 billion in transaction volume.
  • Mumtaz is scheduled to serve as a judge for an upcoming NEAR Hackathon.
  • Crypto Briefing reported that Mumtaz's dual role could encourage cross-chain collaboration, but may also trigger governance and trust concerns.

Sources 路 8 sources

  1. CB

    Crypto Banter@crypto_banterPost on X 路

    馃毃HELIUS CEO @MERT JOINS NEAR FOUNDATION COUNCIL! The NEAR Foundation has appointed Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Solana infrastructure firm Helius and a major Zcash advocate, to its governing Council. Mumtaz will help guide product strategy, ecosystem growth, and governance as near:native expands its private onchain markets vision. He was an early user of NEAR Intents, which has processed more than $33 billion in volume, and will also judge the upcoming NEAR Hackathon.

    Open source
  2. DN

    DEGEN NEWS@DegenerateNewsPost on X 路

    BREAKING: @Helius CEO @mert JOINS @NEARFoundation COUNCIL SOURCE: https://t.co/EdYnXgxpte https://t.co/s5HAZNX40F

    Open source
  3. NP

    NEAR Protocol@NEARProtocolPost on X 路

    Helius CEO @mert has joined the NEAR Foundation Council, NEAR Foundation鈥檚 governing body. An early NEAR Intents user and leading voice on privacy, Mert brings an operator鈥檚 view to how NEAR builds and grows. 鈥淔or crypto to win, we need connected, unstoppable liquidity at planetary scale. A market of markets. Neither Solana, Zcash, or Bitcoin can win on their own, we must work together. And NEAR is how." https://t.co/BG9gKqDKIU

    Open source
  4. CB

    Crypto Briefing@Crypto_BriefingPost on X 路

    馃挜 NEW: Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz has joined the NEAR Foundation Council to help advance onchain privacy, cross-chain liquidity and ecosystem growth. https://t.co/oBcKD6AhEs

    Open source
  5. CB

    Crypto BriefingArticle 路

    Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joins NEAR Council to advance onchain privacy Mumtaz's dual role could foster collaboration between NEAR and Solana, but may also raise concerns about impartial governance and community trust. The post Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joins NEAR Council to advance onchain privacy appeared first on Crypto Briefing .

    Open source
  6. MI

    MSB Intel@MSBIntelPost on X 路

    Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joins NEAR Foundation鈥檚 council to help guide product strategy, ecosystem growth and governance. https://t.co/Ss9tFshbUN

    Open source
  7. BA

    BanklessArticle 路

    Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz Joins NEAR Foundation Council The head of one of Solana's largest infrastructure firms is joining NEAR's governing council as the network expands its push into private, cross-chain markets.

    Open source
  8. TB

    The BlockArticle 路

    Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joins NEAR Foundation Council Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz joined NEAR Foundation's Council, which oversees the foundation and its most significant decisions.

    Open source