After ‘Civil War’ and Anti-Immigrant Tweets, Ryan Selkis Told to Cool It by His Crypto Startup’s Leadership

“I ran too hot this week, and will address that in full soon.”

Ryan Selkis, the founder and CEO of the crypto data platform Messari, is known for his outspoken presence on social media, often using X (formerly Twitter) to direct sharp criticisms at Gary Gensler’s Securities and Exchange Commission, among others.

However, his recent comments following an incident where an assassin’s bullet narrowly missed Donald Trump were particularly striking, even by his standards. Reports suggest that colleagues at Messari—backed by prominent investors including Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital and hedge fund powerhouse Brevan Howard, and once valued at around $300 million—felt compelled to intervene and encourage him to dial it back.

On Thursday, Selkis acknowledged the discussion with Messari leadership, expressing gratitude for their “tough love.” He shared, “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 admitted to having been overly passionate this week, promising to address the matter more thoroughly in the near future.

So what’s all this about? It seems to be connected to the intense emotions he expressed on X following the assassination attempt on Trump. As of Thursday, he had made his tweets private, although they are still visible to his approximately 354,000 followers.

On the afternoon of the shooting, he posted, “Anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a f*cking fire. Literal war.” This particular message has since been removed. He followed up with another tweet, declaring, “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 following day, he continued to express thoughts on violence, particularly in the context of self-defense. He stated, “Bolshevism cannot be cured with votes. We must excise the metastatic cancer and evil of the left, even if it requires force. This is precisely why the Second Amendment is so crucial. Do not initiate violence, but if it comes to your doorstep, respond with force.”

He also spoke about the concept of war, remarking, “Unfortunately, unity is often achieved only after a decisive victory. This is one of those pivotal moments. The previous instances were in 1776, 1860, and 1942. I pray for peace, while simultaneously preparing for war.”

Selkis mirrored the anti-immigration sentiments often associated with the MAGA movement. In a conversation on X, he queried another user about their immigration status, asking if they were “a citizen or just a green card holder?” When the individual responded that they were a green card holder on the verge of applying for citizenship, Selkis replied, “I hope we send you back. … You are not entitled to citizenship, and I hope it remains that way.”

Selkis shared images of a bloodied Trump shortly after the incident, juxtaposing them with the iconic photograph of then-President Barack Obama and current President Joe Biden in the Situation Room during the raid that resulted in Osama bin Laden’s death. Accompanying the images, Selkis commented, “Too true.”

Selkis directed another post at a well-known critic of the crypto industry, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), featuring side-by-side images of her and Trump’s would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. He wrote, “Are you pleased that Trump is still alive, or disappointed that you missed your chance to eliminate a ‘dictator who will destroy democracy’? Physiognomy doesn’t lie…”

The reference to physiognomy, a discredited practice aimed at judging someone’s character based on their appearance, seemed to suggest a physical similarity between the two individuals.

He responded to a tweet from SEC Chair Gary Gensler with the remark, “We’re so close to your inevitable jail sentence, I can almost taste it.”

When a CoinDesk journalist reached out for further comment, Selkis chose not to elaborate on his recent posts.

Such behavior is not typically expected from a CEO, especially one with significant venture capital backing. However, a certain level of brashness is often seen in the crypto community on social media, and X’s owner, Elon Musk, is also known for pushing boundaries.

Messari, a platform that enables users to track and analyze data related to digital assets, plays a crucial role in the crypto landscape. Selkis has become a pivotal figure in the industry’s efforts to regain its foothold in Washington, especially following the significant influence of Sam Bankman-Fried’s departure.

Earlier this year, Selkis addressed an audience alongside Trump at the former president’s NFT gala held at Mar-a-Lago.

After his initial “tough love” tweet on Thursday, Selkis continued to express his views with fervor. “I sent tweets out aggressively, shouting from the rooftops about self-defense and emphasizing the importance of taking the current political climate more seriously than the media does. Consider yourselves warned. I wish critics directed the same energy towards protecting children, preventing war, and upholding American values,” he stated.

He also added, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. I was knocked down by a blow I didn’t see coming. Good. Fewer tweets, more long-form communication, and more focused rage—but with the same mindset: OFFENSE.”