The Edge series will spotlight important nominees who could make a positive impact on the cryptocurrency industry.
@howardlutnick (Transition Team Leader and Commerce Secretary Nominee)
First, we look at Howard Lutnick, who is considered the leader of the Trump transition team and the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. He is an entrepreneur who publicly supports cryptocurrency and is currently being nominated as the future Secretary of Commerce. He was previously considered for the position of Secretary of the Treasury.
Under Lutnick’s leadership, Cantor Fitzgerald has been actively exploring the blockchain and digital asset space. For example, Cantor Fitzgerald served as the custodian of Tether’s bond portfolio and recently made a strategic investment in Tether.
Scott Bessent (Nominee for Secretary of Finance)
As a senior hedge fund manager, Scott Bessent has a deep understanding of financial innovation and has publicly expressed his support for cryptocurrencies many times. He once said: "Cryptocurrency represents freedom and cryptocurrency will exist for a long time."
Bessent is clearly more friendly to the crypto industry than the previous popular candidate Henry Paulson, who publicly criticized cryptocurrencies in 2021, arguing that they have no intrinsic value and accusing them of excessive price fluctuations.
@TulsiGabbard (Nominee for Director of National Intelligence)
The nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence could have important implications for the cryptocurrency industry. She has long been an advocate for privacy and decentralization.
In addition, Gabbard has a direct connection with cryptocurrencies. She disclosed in 2018 that she bought @ethereum (ETH) and @litecoin (LTC) during the 2017 crypto bull run. She has also publicly supported Bitcoin many times, believing that Bitcoin is a tool for achieving financial justice and an effective means to combat excessive government intervention.
@RobertKennedyJr (Nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly expressed support for Bitcoin as a powerful tool to combat the debasement of fiat currencies. Although his position is not directly related to the crypto industry, RFK Jr. is likely to become an ally of cryptocurrency rather than an opponent in the Trump administration.
@PamBondi (Attorney General nominee)
Pam Bondi’s nomination comes after @mattgaetz dropped out of the position following intense scrutiny within the Republican Party, a potential loss for the cryptocurrency industry.
Matt Gaetz has been a staunch supporter of personal privacy and has pushed through several pro-cryptocurrency legislation, including the (FIT21 Act), (SAB121 Act), and the (Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act). In addition, he has publicly supported the pardon of Edward Snowden.
Pam Bondi is the former Attorney General of Florida, but she has not publicly stated her stance on cryptocurrencies. As a candidate for Attorney General, her policy direction remains unknown.
@michaelgwaltz (National Security Advisor nominee)
Michael Waltz is an active advocate for the development of the U.S. crypto industry. He has repeatedly emphasized the important role of cryptocurrencies in enhancing economic competitiveness and technological independence, while also effectively limiting excessive government intervention.
Waltz’s pro-crypto stance is also reflected in his legislative record, such as his co-sponsorship of the (Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act) and his support votes on SAB121 and FIT21.
@BrendanCarrFCC (FCC Chairman nominee)
Brendan Carr, currently the Republican leader of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is expected to take over as FCC chairman. While Carr has not explicitly expressed his stance on Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies, he is known for his firm anti-censorship stance and support for technological innovation.
Under his leadership, the FCC may provide more support for the development of technical infrastructure for the crypto industry.
@HesterPeirce & Mark Uyeda (Potential Candidates for SEC Chairman)
Hester Peirce has been a staunch supporter of regulatory clarity for digital assets. If she is nominated as SEC chair, it could bring a more friendly policy environment to the crypto industry, reduce uncertainty, and ease regulators' tough stance on the crypto industry. Peirce's appointment would undoubtedly be a big win for the crypto industry, but there are rumors that she has rejected the possibility of this nomination in advance.
Another candidate nominated for SEC chairman is current SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, who has been critical of the SEC's tough policy toward cryptocurrencies in recent years and has been calling for clear and predictable regulatory rules.
Although these nominations have not yet been finalized, there are initial signs that the crypto industry may usher in a more positive policy wind. It is worth noting that Trump's attitude towards China as a major competitor of the United States may further affect crypto policy. Despite China's repeated bans on cryptocurrency activities, it still dominates the field of Bitcoin mining. Trump promised at the Bitcoin2024 conference to promote policies to bring computing power back to the United States, and this move may become a focus of future policies.
