The HBAR Foundation renamed itself Hedera Foundation on Dec. 20, 2024, and in the same announcement named Charles Adkins chief executive, effective Jan. 1, 2025, moving him up from his prior post as president of Hedera Hashgraph, LLC1. He had also led teams at Polygon Labs and Aptos2.
One of Hedera's 6 leadership moves on the record came in 2024
Leadership moves CryptoLately has verified at Hedera, by year
- 2024: 1
- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
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 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
26 CEO appointments on the record in 2024
CEO appointments CryptoLately has verified, by year; 2026 through Oct. 2, 2026
- 2024: 26
- 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 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 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 18 |
The move
Why pair a new chief executive with a new name? Hedera Foundation framed the two changes as inseparable. “This strategic transformation is much more than a leadership and name change; it underscores a deepened commitment to individual users of the Hedera network, promotes financial inclusivity through decentralized finance (DeFi), and drives the broader adoption of Hedera's open-source technology,” the foundation wrote1. Adkins described the moment in similar terms. “As we turn the page to this new chapter for the Hedera network, we are not just transforming Hedera Foundation; we are setting the stage for more lasting impacts across the entire ecosystem,” he said.
Hedera Foundation before and after
Four priorities for 2025 topped the foundation's list: DeFi, tokenization, AI and digital identity2. One deliverable had a deadline attached: a transparent on-chain grant management platform, "set for initial release in Q2 of 2025," meant to let the Hedera community help decide which projects get funded1. Grantees kept what they already had. Existing HBAR Foundation grantees would keep their agreements in place under the new brand, the foundation said.
What came next
Adkins still led Hedera Foundation in May 2025, less than five months later, when a second Hedera body changed its name. Hedera's own blog reported on May 8, 2025, that the Hedera Governing Council had separately renamed itself Hedera Council3. Both entities now carried the shared Hedera brand while staying independent. The blog said “Hedera Foundation, led by CEO Charles Adkins, will continue as an independent entity focused on community-driven retail innovation and institutional adoption of the Hedera network”. Hedera Council took its own new president, Tom Sylvester. Co-founder Mance Harmon was elected the council's chairman for a two-year term starting July 1, 2025, succeeding Brett McDowell.
Sources
- "A New Chapter for The HBAR Foundation," Hedera Foundation, Dec. 20, 2024, https://hedera.foundation/blog/a-new-chapter-for-the-hbar-foundation
- Ronny Mugendi, "Hedera Foundation Appoints Charles Adkins as CEO, What's Next?," CoinGape, Dec. 20, 2024, https://coingape.com/hedera-foundation-appoints-charles-adkins-as-ceo-whats-next/
- "A New Era For Hedera," Hedera, May 8, 2025, https://hedera.com/blog/a-new-era-for-hedera