Nathan Allman, founder and CEO of Ondo Finance, has died unexpectedly at the age of 32, the company confirmed on Monday.
In a statement shared on X, Ondo described Allman as a visionary leader whose work helped shape the fast-growing market for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). The company did not disclose the cause of death and said the family requested privacy.
“Allman’s brilliance, humility, and determination shaped every part of Ondo,”
the company said.
“His belief in open and accessible financial systems will continue through the work we do.”
It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Nathan Allman, Ondo’s founder. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones.
Nate’s brilliance, humility, and drive shaped every part of what Ondo is today. His belief in the power of technology to create a…
— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) May 25, 2026
A pioneer in crypto tokenization
Allman was widely known in the crypto industry for helping bring traditional financial assets onto blockchain networks through tokenization. Under his leadership, Ondo Finance became one of the largest players in the RWA sector, with more than $3.86 billion in tokenized assets issued on-chain.
The platform allowed investors to gain blockchain-based exposure to products such as US Treasuries, stocks and commodities. More than 111,000 holders currently own tokenized assets issued through Ondo.
The rise of tokenization has become one of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors, attracting interest from major financial institutions, including BlackRock. Supporters of the technology believe blockchain-based assets can improve settlement speed, trading efficiency and global access to financial products.
From Goldman Sachs to Ondo Finance
Before launching Ondo in 2021, Allman worked on the digital assets team at Goldman Sachs. He also founded ChainStreet Capital, a crypto hedge fund focused on algorithmic and event-driven trading strategies.
His move from traditional finance into blockchain came during a period of growing institutional interest in digital assets and decentralized finance. Ondo Finance recently partnered with Broadridge Financial Solutions to introduce voting capabilities for holders of tokenized stocks and ETFs, marking a step toward aligning blockchain-based assets with traditional market standards.
Ondo leadership confirms transition
Following Allman’s death, Ondo announced that company president Ian De Bode will take over as CEO.
“Ian has been leading our strategy, product, and day-to-day operations for over two years and has the full confidence of the leadership team.”
De Bode described Allman as both a close friend and an influential founder whose vision helped define the company’s mission.
Ondo’s vice president and head of marketing, Ben Grossman, also paid tribute, calling Allman “a once-in-a-generation founder and visionary” whose impact on the crypto industry would not be forgotten.
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