Circle Internet Financial named Heath Tarbert chief legal officer and head of corporate affairs on June 8, 20231. The role takes effect July 1. Circle's pressroom called it "an extraordinary step in Circle's growth as a global company". Tarbert arrived from Citadel Securities with the same title, and he succeeds Flavia Naves, Circle's general counsel, who had already planned her exit, Circle's release said. “I've long been intrigued by both Jeremy Allaire's vision of moving money safely at internet speed and Circle's tangible accomplishments as a respected, trusted global leader in payments with a regulatory-first approach,” Tarbert said.
The fourth executive hire at Circle on the record since 2021
Leadership moves CryptoLately has verified at Circle, by year
- 2023: 2
- 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
20 executive hires on the record in 2023
Executive hires CryptoLately has verified, by year; 2026 through Oct. 2, 2026
- 2023: 20
- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 27 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 | 45 |
The move
Tarbert's prior posts span all three branches of the federal government, Circle's announcement said. He chaired the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as its 14th leader. Vice chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions came next1. Before that, he worked as a Treasury assistant secretary for international markets, the release said. Jeremy Allaire, Circle's co-founder and chief executive, tied the hire to the company's regulatory ambitions. “As we continue building a bridge between traditional finance and Web3, Heath's perspective, legal acumen and global regulatory experience will help us advance the utility value of USDC worldwide,” Allaire said. Bitcoinist's report quoted the same Circle release. It added that Tarbert aims to “encourage policymakers to establish sound rules for digital assets that provide clarity, coherence and protection for people and businesses”2.
Circle's legal team before and after
Naves had led Circle's legal organization through financing rounds and the company's global expansion, and Circle's post called her exit amicable1. Tarbert also spent time at the law firm Allen & Overy. There he headed the bank regulatory practice, Circle's release noted. That work gave him private-sector regulatory counsel experience to pair with his government record. Bitcoinist tied the timing to Circle's position that spring. USDC's market value had fallen from above $30 billion to $28.51 billion. The outlet linked that drop to the stablecoin's exposure in the Silicon Valley Bank collapse2.
What came next
Circle went public on June 5, 2025. Tarbert held the title Circle president that day, and he spoke with American Banker about the move on June 63. Circle's own blog still called him "our President" on Dec. 8, 2025, the day it said he had won the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award4.
Sources
- Circle, "Circle Names Heath Tarbert Chief Legal Officer & Head of Corporate Affairs," Circle Pressroom, June 8, 2023, https://www.circle.com/pressroom/circle-names-heath-tarbert-chief-legal-officer-head-of-corporate-affairs
- Samuel Edyme, "Circle Welcomes Former CFTC Chair, Heath Tarbert, As New Chief Legal Officer," Bitcoinist, June 8, 2023, https://bitcoinist.com/circle-welcome-ex-cftc-chair-as-chief-legal-officer/
- Joey Pizzolato, "Post-IPO Q&A with Circle President Heath Tarbert," American Banker, June 6, 2025, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxNV1ZWMFo5bFlYLWxqT0o0aGh3bzQ5NlRMNVFSazF4OXZna1NvZDVCTDhHMHFJLXpPeEJhUGxtS0QzZmkzU1VQRlMtcGRyWE40UVQwckx2bWdZdDVyLWNVcll0MmJ2R2gzeUplaTVvSG1jT2dwcVFnRURGMnIyY1pWem10Q0llRU5uRExEd0R6b21LTEZZUVMwZQ?oc=5
- Circle, "Service, Leadership, and Integrity: Honoring Circle's President, Heath Tarbert," Circle, Dec. 8, 2025, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQaUFGRWpqNHd1dWpHblI5QVVGYjM0amdFRTRrRDFqQmNjSFh3VmswOU51Q3FKaDRRZlJFVmdvS0lVNDU2UFlrVWdsbklTU21NSTBsSHRaTUhrZzhiRFNBWUFPWmE1UUpRYWY2UVM0VWU5MnZEWVlkLXlWVU1iaFAxSTdXeEFJZkhNeUwwVmVuU0RiVWFQRnhxVWs4S2ptYmM2NFZF?oc=5