Waldron Next in Line: Goldman Sachs' Likely CEO Weighs Crypto Strategy

Goldman Sachs' likely next CEO is John Waldron, who has been with the bank since 2000. As president and chief operating officer (COO), he has led several initiatives, including the development of OneGS 3.0, an AI-driven efficiency plan.

In 2021, Waldron noted that client demand for Bitcoin was rising, with Goldman seeking a compliant way to serve them. The bank had revived its crypto trading desk and started dealing BTC futures for clients, while also weighing a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Waldron's recent public interviews have centered on AI rather than crypto, but if promoted to CEO, he would inherit a sector where banks are weighing stablecoins and tokenization. The bank's board discussed a handover from current CEO David Solomon, with Waldron potentially taking over around the end of 2027 or in 2028.