KeyTakeaways:
- Rebecca Rettig brings years of crypto legal expertise to Jito Labs.
- Jito Labs grows rapidly, accounting for 94% of Solana’s stake.
- Jito Labs aims to tackle regulatory challenges under new leadership.
Jito Labs has appointed Rebecca Rettig, a seasoned crypto legal professional, as its first-ever chief legal officer. Rettig, who has extensive experience in the crypto market with roles at Aave and Polygon, will enter her new role on January 20. Her expertise is expected to guide Jito through the rapidly changing legal and regulatory landscape currently shaping the crypto industry.
With the crypto market under increased scrutiny globally, Rettig will help steer Jito Labs through changing regulations like the European Union’s MiCA guidelines and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority in Dubai.
With a pro-crypto stance, the incoming administration in the United States adds further layers of complexity to the environment. Rettig’s legal insight will be pivotal as Jito continues to grow and expand its influence within the Solana network.
Jito Labs, responsible for a critical block engine and validator client within the Solana ecosystem, has seen remarkable growth. The protocol now accounts for 94% of Solana’s total stake. In 2024, it generated $674 million in tips, an increase from $3.52 million in 2023.
Jito’s CEO, Lucas Bruder, noted that a small team of 14 employees manages the company. Rettig’s leadership will strengthen Jito’s legal, compliance, and policy functions as the company continues its upward trajectory.
Before entering crypto, Rettig had a robust legal career, working at prestigious firms like Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. She also held advisory roles with the New York Department of Financial Services’ Virtual Currency Advisory Group and served on a digital asset subcommittee for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Her academic background includes a law degree from Columbia University, where she focused on compliance issues, particularly in anti-money laundering laws impacting decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
Jito’s recent growth follows a successful Series A funding round in 2022, during which it raised $10 million from notable investors such as Multicoin Capital, Solana Ventures, and Framework Ventures. With Rettig at the helm of its legal department, Jito Labs is poised to navigate the complexities of the evolving crypto landscape effectively.
