A slew of crypto companies including Ripple, Kraken and Circle are jostling for a seat on President-elect Donald Trump’s promised crypto advisory council, seeking a say in his planned overhaul of U.S. policy, according to several digital asset industry executives.
Campaigning at a July bitcoin conference in Nashville, Trump promised a new council as part of a crypto-friendly administration. His transition team is discussing how to structure and staff it, and which companies should be included, the people said.
Several top U.S. crypto companies are clamoring for seats at the table. Among them are venture firm Paradigm, said one source, while venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm a16z is also expected to grab a spot.
“It’s being fleshed out, but I anticipate the leading executives from America’s bitcoin and crypto firms to be represented,” said David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine who arranged for Trump to speak at the July conference and has spoken with the President-elect about bitcoin policy.
Coinbase (COIN.O), opens new tab CEO Brian Armstrong recently met with Trump, said a source familiar with the matter, confirming a Monday Wall Street Journal report. It was unclear what they discussed. The source added that Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, was also interested in being on the council.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire told the New York Times this month he wants to be on the council, a company spokesperson noted.
The crypto council would likely be housed under the White House’s National Economic Council, which coordinates and implements the President’s economic policies, or a separate White House apparatus, two of the people said.
It is expected to advise on digital asset policy, work with Congress on crypto legislation, establish Trump’s promised bitcoin reserve and coordinate between agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Treasury, they and other executives said. The council may also include enforcement representatives and former policymakers, one of the sources said.
