Gerald Gallagher is serving as the General Counsel at Sei Labs and President of the Sei Development Foundation. He plays a crucial role in shaping the legal and governance frameworks for Sei, a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain that integrates elements of Ethereum and Solana to enhance transaction speed and scalability. Gallagher is also heavily involved in the broader crypto ecosystem through his co-hosting of the "Crypto in America" podcast and his foundational role in DC DAO, which emphasizes community-driven innovation and policy advancement in the blockchain space. ^{[1] [2] [3]}​

Early Life and Education

Gerald Gallagher received a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from the University of South Carolina. During his undergraduate studies, he was named to the Dean's List in Spring 2011 and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.

He subsequently earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. While attending law school, he received the CALI Award and participated in academic programs including Law & Economics, Bioethics, and the Transnational Dispute Resolution Program. He was also a member of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn and the Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society. In addition, he co-founded the Sport & Entertainment Law Society, serving as its Vice President, and worked as a peer mentor.

Gallagher also completed an International Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Investment Finance at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina. During the program, he served as President of the MBA Consulting Club, received the Moore School Excellence Award, was a Top 10 Global Finalist in the Bain & Company 2015 Innovation Competition, and participated in case competitions, pro bono consulting projects, and the International Program at Universidad de Salamanca.

He later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law & Entrepreneurship from Duke University School of Law. His academic activities included the Practicum, CED Connections to Capital, the Program for Entrepreneurs (P4E), the Fuqua Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club, the Duke Startup Challenge, where he served as a judge, and the Advanced Degree Consulting Club, where he held the position of Vice Chair of Projects. He also finished in second place at the Fuqua Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC). The program included coursework related to the legal and business processes associated with company formation and exit.

In 2021, Gallagher completed Duke University's Summer Blockchain Program. The program covered blockchain fundamentals, smart contract development, blockchain startup concepts, and entrepreneurship. ^[1]​

Career

Venture Capital

Gerald Gallagher began his career in venture capital, spending approximately five years working on investments in the fintech and healthcare sectors, both of which operate within regulated industries. His work during this period focused on evaluating investment opportunities and navigating regulatory considerations affecting companies in these sectors, which served as a basis for later work with digital assets.

During this time, Gallagher co-founded DC DAO and Vellum, organizations focused on legal and operational issues related to decentralized organizations and blockchain projects. Vellum was established to develop legal frameworks for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), addressing legal structures associated with blockchain-based governance models.

Sei Labs

Gallagher joined Sei Labs as Counsel in 2024 before becoming General Counsel in January 2025. In this position, he oversees legal affairs for the Sei blockchain, including governance, regulatory matters, legal strategy, and institutional engagement. His responsibilities include the development of legal frameworks for decentralized infrastructure, management of regulatory risk, and discussions with regulators and institutional organizations regarding blockchain policy and compliance.

In April 2025, Gallagher was appointed President of the Board of Directors of the Sei Development Foundation, an independent U.S. non-profit organization that supports the adoption of open-source, permissionless protocols, including Sei. The foundation works with developers and organizations participating in the Sei ecosystem while supporting blockchain infrastructure initiatives in the United States.

Policy and Regulatory Activities

Alongside his legal responsibilities, Gallagher has participated in public policy discussions related to blockchain regulation and digital assets. His work has included engagement with policymakers on regulatory frameworks affecting the cryptocurrency industry, including discussions surrounding the repeal of the DeFi broker rule.

His activities have also involved discussions concerning the relationship between regulatory policy, decentralized technologies, and blockchain infrastructure, with an emphasis on legal and institutional considerations for digital asset networks.

Conferences and Public Speaking

Gallagher has participated in conferences, panel discussions, and podcasts covering blockchain regulation and digital asset policy. His appearances include the Digital Assets Conference at Duke University, where he discussed legal, policy, and technology issues related to blockchain, and ETHDenver 2026, where he addressed legal frameworks, blockchain governance, and institutional adoption.

Media

Gallagher is co-host of the Crypto in America podcast, a weekly interview series featuring policymakers, legal professionals, founders, and other participants in the digital asset industry. The podcast covers topics related to cryptocurrency, public policy, blockchain technology, and regulatory developments in the United States. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]}

Interview

Perspectives on Blockchain Regulation #01

In an interview published by the ATX DAO YouTube channel on July 31, 2024, Gerald Gallagher discussed legal structures, governance models, and regulatory considerations for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Speaking from his perspective, he stated that different DAOs may require different legal structures depending on their activities and organizational objectives. He referenced legal entities including limited liability companies (LLCs), Limited Cooperative Associations (LCAs), and Digital Unincorporated Nonprofit Associations (DUNAs) as examples of frameworks that may be used by DAO projects.

Gallagher also discussed governance within DAOs, stating that community members can participate in proposing and managing initiatives rather than relying exclusively on founding teams. Referring to DC DAO, he outlined its organizational areas of community, innovation, and public policy, and described interactions with policymakers and legislative staff as part of discussions related to digital asset regulation.

During the interview, Gallagher stated that regulatory approaches should allow experimentation while maintaining mechanisms to address fraud and other unlawful activities. He compared the development of blockchain technology with earlier industries that experienced periods of expansion alongside regulatory and market challenges. Gallagher also said that speculative blockchain applications, including meme coins, can generate network activity that reveals technical limitations related to scalability, transaction throughput, and user experience. According to Gallagher, these observations may provide information about blockchain infrastructure under conditions of increased demand. ^[16]

Perspectives on Venture Capital #02

In an interview published on November 12, 2025, on the Investor Connect podcast hosted by Hall Martin, Gerald Gallagher discussed topics related to venture capital, healthcare investment, and startup financing. Drawing on his role at Healthworx, he outlined his perspective on changes in the healthcare sector, citing technological developments, shifts in patient behavior, and regulatory changes following the COVID-19 pandemic as factors influencing investment activity.

Gallagher stated that investors may evaluate opportunities based on knowledge of specific industries or professional experience, while founders should prepare for fundraising by refining their presentations and demonstrating familiarity with the markets in which they operate. He said that investors often consider a founder's understanding of the problem being addressed and the rationale behind the proposed business model during the evaluation process.

The discussion also covered changes in startup financing, including the use of crowdfunding frameworks, token-based fundraising models, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Gallagher noted that these approaches have introduced additional funding mechanisms but remain subject to evolving regulatory frameworks. He also described Healthworx's investment focus on Series A and Series B digital health companies, referencing areas such as healthcare interoperability and behavioral health as examples of sectors monitored by the firm. ^[17]