Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by [***], has been omitted because the registrant has determined that the information (i) is not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential....
Exhibit 10.15
Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by [***], has been omitted because the registrant has determined that the information (i) is not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.
SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 16, 2025 (the “Effective Date”) by and between ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“Executive”) and Grayscale Operating, LLC (the “Company”). Any reference in this Agreement to the Company shall be deemed to include Grayscale Investments, LLC (“GSI”), as its predecessor in interest.
WHEREAS, the Company desires that Executive continue to be employed by the Company as Chief Executive Officer and Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company in such position, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement entered into as of March 19, 2025 by and between Executive and the Company (the “Prior Agreement”).
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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(A) a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to two times Executive’s then current Base Salary (the “Cash Severance”).
(B) if Executive timely elects coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), and subject to applicable taxes, payment or reimbursement of Employee (at the discretion of the Company) for the amount of any COBRA premiums under the Company’s medical and dental benefit plans that would be due, less the active employee premium for Employee’s elected level of coverage, until the earliest to occur of (x) twelve (12) months following such date of termination; or (y) the date Executive becomes eligible for group health coverage from another employer, provided that, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 10(f) hereof, the first payments pursuant to this Section 10(a)(ii) shall be made on the next regularly scheduled payroll date following the sixtieth (60th) day after Executive’s termination and shall include payment of any amounts that would otherwise be due prior thereto.
(C) a pro-rata target bonus paid at 50% of the Annual Bonus portion of the Annual Target Incentive Opportunity assuming target performance, which amount shall be paid in a lump sum (the “Pro-Rata Target Bonus”).
(D) accelerated vesting of any outstanding equity awards held by Executive as of the date of termination that would have vested had Executive remained employed by the Company through the first anniversary of the date of termination (with such awards otherwise remaining subject to the terms of the applicable plan and/or award agreement).
(E) a lump sum payment in the amount of any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for the year prior to Executive’s termination (the “Prior Year Bonus”).
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(X) if to the Company:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
Stamford, CT, 06902-8700
[***]
(Y) if to Executive:
at Executive’s email or home address as then shown in the Company’s personnel records,
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
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[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
GRAYSCALE OPERATING, LLC
By: GSO Intermediate Holdings Corporation, the Managing Member of Grayscale Operating, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
By: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairperson of the Board
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AGREEMENT
CONFIDENTIALITY & RIGHTS AGREEMENT
The following agreement (the “Agreement”) between Grayscale Operating, LLC (the “Company”), and the individual identified on the signature page to this Agreement (“Employee” or “I”) is effective as of the Employee’s Start Date. Any reference in this Agreement to the Company shall be deemed to include Grayscale Investments, LLC, as its predecessor in interest. Employee acknowledges that this Agreement is a material part of the consideration for their employment and/or continued employment by the Company, and for Company’s entrusting to Employee Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the Company’s business during their employment. In exchange for the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree that nothing herein shall change Employee’s at-will employment status, and further hereby agrees to as follows:
1. Confidential Information.
a. Definition; Restrictions on Use. Employee acknowledges that they received or may receive confidential and/or proprietary information (including but not limited to trade secrets) concerning the business of Company and/or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or parent companies, including but not limited to Grayscale Operating, LLC (collectively “Affiliated Entities”), which may include information and/or documents relating to Company’s and Affiliated Entities’ business plans and practices, reports, costs, revenues, profits, client or customer information, client or supplier lists, investor information, key personnel, operational methods, plans for future developments, business affairs and methods, sales and marketing data, pricing strategy and techniques, management, finances, databases, investment planning, algorithms, formulae, cryptocurrency technology and methodology (including but not limited to mining, staking, and blockchain), trademarks, copyrights, patents, publications, writings or other materials, designs, graphics, processes, models and systems, technology, codes, technical and software programming information, computer systems and access information, information furnished to Company and Affiliated Entities by third parties, legal issues, affiliates, or other information not generally known or available to the public (collectively “Confidential Information”). Confidential Information includes but is not limited to information conceived or developed by Employee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, Confidential Information shall not include (1) information that was in Employee’s possession prior to Employee’s employment by the Company or any of its affiliates, and is not known by Employee to be subject to another confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or any of its affiliates, (2) information that becomes generally available to and know by the public other than as a result of disclosure by Employee, or (3) information that becomes generally available to Employee on a non-confidential from a source other than the Company or any of its affiliates, provided such source is not known by Employee to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation to secrecy to the Company or any of its affiliates.
Except as set forth in Section 1(c), Employee will use Confidential Information solely as required in the performance of their duties for Company, and for no other purpose, will hold all Confidential Information in the strictest confidence and will not reveal or disclose any Confidential Information to any third parties (including but not limited to personal friends and family and on any social media outlet), for any purpose, except as provided herein, with Company’s prior written consent, or as required by law. Except as set forth in Section 1(c), Employee will keep all Confidential Information secure, take all necessary measures to prevent unauthorized access to, use, reproduction or disclosure thereof, and limit access thereto to those persons necessary to the performance of services for Company. Employee will notify Company immediately in the event that any Confidential Information is lost, stolen or inadvertently
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disclosed to unauthorized third parties. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prohibit Employee from discussing with other employees, or with third parties who are not future employers or competitors of the Company, Employee’s wages, hours or other terms and conditions of employment.
Moreover, nothing in this Agreement prohibits an employee from communicating with, disclosing factual information to, participating in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, or filing a charge, complaint or claim with law enforcement or a governmental agency such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, the New York State Department of Financial Services, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and/or their applicable state or local equivalents without providing prior notice to the Company.
2. Material Rights.
a. Definitions. Any inventions, discoveries,
improvements, trade secret, innovations, processes, ideas, concepts, formulas, data, know-how, techniques, designs, computer programs, software, code, firmware, device, apparatus, specifications, prototype, algorithm, plan, photographs, illustrations, writings, content, designs, audio, video, programs, technology, work of authorship, or other developments, creations, or works of any nature created by Employee during Employee’s employment by Company or Affiliated Entities, which are for Company or Affiliated Entities, and/or submitted to Company or Affiliated Entities, or that are created, in whole or in part, from any use of Company or Affiliated Entities resources, or which otherwise relate to the business or any actual
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or demonstrably anticipated research or development of Company (the “Material”), including but not limited to all intellectual property rights therein, will be and hereby are owned in their entirety throughout the universe by Company.
b. Assignment. To the extent that any Material
is comprised of or contains copyrightable material, such Material shall be works-made-for-hire within the meaning of the Copyright Act. In the event that any Material is determined not to be a work-made-for- hire or that other intellectual property rights are represented therein, Employee hereby assigns and grants to Company, without further consideration, all right, title, and interest, including copyright, throughout the universe, in any and all media and forms now in existence or hereafter developed, in any such Material, for the full term of each respective right. The foregoing applies whether the Material was created in whole or in solely by Employee or with others, on or off Company’s premises, and whether or not during Employee’s regular working hours. Assigned Material shall not include any Material that is both (i) developed entirely on Employee’s own time, without use of any Company facilities, assets, ideas or direction and (ii) not useful or related to any Company or Affiliated Entities interest or business.
Employee also hereby assigns and grants to Company all right, title, and interest in such Material under laws relating to trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and/or other forms of personal and/or intellectual property.
This Agreement will not be construed to limit in any way any “shop rights” or other common law or contractual right of Company.
Employee will fully and promptly disclose to Company and hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of Company, any and all Material that Employee may solely or jointly conceive, design, develop, create or suggest or cause to be conceived, designed, developed, created, or suggested, in whole or in part, during any period of time Employee is
employed by Company, which relates to or is connected with Employee’s employment or the actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company.
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Employee will provide any necessary assistance to protect, register, enforce, and defend Company’s rights and interests in the Material. Employee will execute any documents reasonably requested by Company to confirm the rights and obligations herein and will otherwise assist Company in applying for protection or registration, enforcing, and/or defending its rights in and to the Material. In the event Company is unable, for any reason whatsoever, to secure Employee’s signature to any such document within five (5) days, Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company, and its duly authorized officers and agents, as Employee’s agent and attorney-in-fact, whose power is coupled with an interest, to act for and on Employee’s behalf, to execute such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to protect Company’s interest in any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other intellectual property or proprietary right with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Employee.
All media inquiries regarding the position of the Company as to any issues must be referred to the CEO or Director of Operations. Only the CEO is authorized to make or approve public statements on behalf of the Company. No employees, unless specifically designated by the CEO, are authorized to make those statements on behalf of the Company. Any employee wishing to write and/or publish an article, paper, blog, tweet or other publication (print or digital) on behalf of the Company must first obtain approval from the CEO.
a. Non-Solicitation. Except in the ordinary course of Employee’s duties or in the furtherance of the business of the Company or Affiliated Entities, during employment and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, Employee will not:
b. Non-Competition. During employment and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter (the “Restricted Period”), Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, own an interest in, manage, operate, join, control, consult, advise, lend money or render financial or other assistance to or participate in or be connected with as an officer, employee, partner, stockholder, consultant or otherwise, any company, partnership, firm, corporation or other business organization or entity that, at such time, is engaged in any business competitive with the business conducted by the
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Company or planned to be conducted by the Company in the future, and is known by the Employee, (collectively, the “Restricted Business”) which includes but is not limited to mining and staking of digital currency, financing of mining equipment, and mining advisory services and that is directly related to the work that Employee performed for the Company. The foregoing notwithstanding, nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit Employee from acquiring or holding up to an aggregate of one percent (1%) of any issue of stock or securities of any company engaged in Restricted Business that is listed on a national securities exchange. Employee represents and warrants that as of the date of this Agreement, Employee is not engaged, either directly or indirectly, in any Restricted Business. This Section 5(b) shall not prevent Employee from consulting with, working for, or rendering service to a Restricted Business that has a unit, division, subsidiary or affiliate engaging in any business competitive with the business of the Company but that is not otherwise competitive with the Company, as long as the Employee does not render any services to such unit, division, subsidiary or affiliate engaging in a business competitive with the business of the Company.
Information of Others.
Employee represents and warrants that Employee’s performance of all terms of this Agreement and as an Employee of Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence trade secret, proprietary or confidential information of an entity unaffiliated with Company that was acquired before becoming an employee of the Company. Employee further represents and warrants that Employee has not, and will not, disclose to Company, or induce Company to use, any trade secret, proprietary or confidential information belonging to any previous employer or to others.
Employee and Company acknowledge and stipulate that the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement are of a special nature and that any breach, violation or evasion by Employee of the terms of this Agreement will result in immediate and irreparable injury and harm to Company, and will cause damage to Company in amounts difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, Company will be entitled to the remedies of injunction and specific performance, or either of such remedies, as well as to all other legal or equitable remedies to which Company may be entitled, without any obligation to post a bond or demonstrate the inadequacy of remedies at law, including but not limited to termination of your employment.
Employee’s obligations and Company’s rights hereunder will survive the termination of Employee’s employment with Company for any voluntary or involuntary reason. This Agreement may not be assigned by Employee or Company except that Company may assign this Agreement in connection with a transfer of the business to which it relates. Any assignment without written consent, except as provided above, will be null and void.
9. Miscellaneous.
This Agreement may only be modified or terminated by an instrument in writing, signed by Employee and an authorized Company representative. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of New York without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any notices to Company must be sent to the Chief Executive Officer. Notices to Employee may be sent via email or regular mail to the latest addresses for Employee in Company’s records. This Agreement supersedes any prior agreement between Employee and Company or Affiliated Entities relating to the subject matter hereof This Agreement shall in no way supersede the Employee Handbook, except in so far as a conflict may exist between the language contained herein and the Handbook; in that case, this Agreement shall be controlling. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute
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one and the same agreement. The facsimile, email or other electronically delivered signatures of the parties shall be deemed to constitute original signatures, and facsimile or electronic copies hereof shall be deemed to constitute duplicate originals. If any provision of this Agreement or part thereof shall be held by a court or other tribunal to be unenforceable, then such provision or part thereof shall be excised here from and the remaining provisions of this Agreement and parts thereof shall remain in full force and effect.
Employee acknowledges that Employee has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and consult with legal counsel. Employee has read and understands this Agreement and is fully aware of its legal effect. Employee has entered into this Agreement freely and voluntarily based on Employee’s own judgment and not on any representations or promises other than those contained in this Agreement.
Employee Company
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chairman of the Board
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Date: 5/16/2024
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EXHIBIT B
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE FORM
CONFIDENTIAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”), dated DATE, sets forth the terms of separation between you, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“You”) and Grayscale Operating, LLC and any other affiliates (past or present) for which you may have done work or by which you may have been employed (collectively, the “Company”).
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This release shall not waive (i) any indemnification rights, including indemnification rights-under Section 14 of the Employment Agreement or the Indemnity Agreement between you and the Company, or any other indemnification rights you may otherwise be entitled to pursuant to applicable law or the organizational documents of the Company; (ii) any rights you may have to previously vested and accrued benefits under the terms of the compensation and benefit programs of the Company; (iii) any rights that may not be waived as a matter of law; (iv) any rights to enforce this Confidential Separation Agreement and Release; (v) any rights that may arise after executing of this Agreement; or (vii) any rights to stock options or other equity interests, subject to and in accordance with the respective plans and award agreements.
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signatures of the parties shall be deemed to constitute original signatures, and facsimile or electronic copies hereof shall be deemed to constitute duplicate originals.
By:
Grayscale Operating, LLC
I have read, understand and agree to all of the terms of this Agreement.
NAME
[Signature Page to Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release]

