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Trump considers crypto appointments to strengthen US position in digital innovation and regulation.
Photo: Kris Marszalek
Key Takeaways
- Kris Marszalek of Crypto.com met with Donald Trump to discuss potential crypto appointments and Bitcoin reserve matters.
- Trump's administration has appointed several crypto advocates to key financial positions.
President-elect Donald Trump met with Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday to discuss appointments related to the crypto industry and Bitcoin reserves, according to a new report from Bloomberg, citing a source familiar with the conversation.
The meeting covered potential appointments in the financial departments, Congress and the incoming administration, the report noted.
“We look forward to working with the new administration to develop and advance clear regulations for the crypto industry so the US can become a global leader in digital assets and innovation,” a Crypto.com spokesperson told Bloomberg.
It was Trump’s most recent meeting with leading figures from crypto businesses in the US. Last month, the President-elect had a phone call with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, where they discussed broader crypto topics, as reported by Fortune.
The meeting comes at a time when Trump’s transition team is expected to announce their appointment to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair position. The role is among the key appointments in focus following the nomination of Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman.
Once a skeptic of Bitcoin, Trump has embraced cryptocurrency and proposed ideas such as a crypto advisory council and a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Apart from the pro-innovation Atkins, Trump has also named several crypto advocates to key positions, including Cantor Fitzgerald LP’s Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary and Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary. Venture capitalist David Sacks has been appointed to advise on both artificial intelligence and crypto.
There is hope that new leadership could reverse the aggressive regulatory actions taken under Gary Gensler, the current SEC Chair.
Crypto.com has recently taken legal action against the SEC following the receipt of a Wells Notice, which indicates the SEC’s intention to pursue enforcement actions against the company.
In a lawsuit filed on October 8, Crypto.com claims that the SEC has overstepped its legal authority by asserting jurisdiction over nearly all crypto assets. The company argues that the SEC’s classification of most crypto transactions as securities is inconsistent and lacks a proper legal basis, particularly as it exempts Bitcoin and Ethereum from this classification.
Alongside the lawsuit, Crypto.com has filed a petition with both the SEC and the CFTC to clarify which agency should regulate specific cryptocurrency derivative products.
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English (US) ·