The reelection of Donald Trump as president of the United States has undoubtedly sent ripples through global markets, but nowhere has the impact been more pronounced than in the cryptocurrency industry.
Widely seen as a pro-crypto figure, Trump’s return to the White House included initiatives related to the crypto industry, such as executive actions, regulatory shakeups, and policy moves.
In this article, BitPinas compiled Trump’s crypto-related moves in his first 100 days since returning to office.
Executive Orders
Crypto Council
In November 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed the creation of a Crypto Advisory Council as part of his plan for a pro-crypto administration.
First announced during his campaign at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, the council is intended to advise on digital asset policy, coordinate federal crypto regulation, help establish a national bitcoin reserve, collaborate with Congress on crypto-related legislation, and streamline cooperation among agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Bureau of the Treasury.
In December 2023, Trump announced Bo Hines as executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets (Crypto Council).
David Sacks as AI and Crypto Czar
In December 2024, Trump appointed former PayPal COO David Sacks as the White House “AI and Crypto Czar.” Despite retaining financial interests in crypto-related firms through his venture fund Craft Ventures, the Trump administration issued him a blanket ethics waiver allowing him to oversee regulations impacting the very industries he’s invested in.
His role includes guiding the regulatory framework for digital assets, managing AI policy across sectors, and leading initiatives like the federal “Crypto Strategic Reserve.” The waiver permits this oversight as long as his fund’s crypto holdings remain below 5%, with further consultation required if they exceed that threshold.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
In March, Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, funded with bitcoin seized through criminal and civil forfeitures. The reserve positions bitcoin as a long-term store of value, with the U.S. government reportedly holding around 200,000 BTC, pending an official audit.
The order also creates a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile made up of seized cryptocurrencies. Its goal is to boost the digital asset industry, support financial stability, guard against inflation, and help the U.S. lead in global crypto innovation.
Worth reading: Industry Reacts To Trump’s Inclusion of Non-Bitcoin Tokens to Crypto Reserve Plans
CBDC Ban
In March, Trump signed an executive order banning the creation and promotion of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) by federal agencies, citing risks to privacy, financial stability, and national sovereignty. The order mandates the immediate termination of all CBDC-related initiatives unless required by law.
In place of CBDCs, the order endorses a private-sector-driven digital asset ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on dollar-backed stablecoins as a secure and less intrusive alternative.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Although called a department, the Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE) is not an official government agency as it was created by a presidential executive order and focuses on improving efficiency through IT upgrades.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order creating the department to carry out the “DOGE Agenda,” aimed at improving how the U.S. government uses technology.
Although the department was not established for cryptocurrency purposes, its use of crypto-related terminology—such as the acronym “DOGE”—has drawn attention. Moreover, Trump appointed Tesla CEO and DOGE token enthusiast Elon Musk to the department.
Check out articles on how and why Elon Must affect crypto prices here: https://bitpinas.com/tag/elon-musk/
Legislative & Regulatory Moves
Overturned an IRS crypto rule
Earlier this April, Trump signed a bill nullifying a controversial Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule that expanded the definition of a “crypto broker” to include decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.
Originally implemented in the final days of the Biden administration, the rule would have forced DeFi platforms to report user transactions, which the industry argued was technically impossible.
White House Digital Asset Summit
The First White House Crypto Summit was held on March 8, 2025, bringing together top digital asset executives to discuss the Trump administration’s stance on cryptocurrencies. It focused on creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a digital asset stockpile using cryptocurrencies seized by law enforcement.
At the event, Trump emphasized his goal to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world” and reduce the regulatory burdens on the industry.
Worth Reading: Bitcoin Drops 3.4% as Trump’s Crypto Summit Lacks Key Details
SEC Reforms
- Paul Atkins as SEC Chair
- In December, Trump selected Paul Atkins, a cryptocurrency advocate and former SEC commissioner, to head the SEC. Trump praised him as a strong leader who backs “common-sense” financial regulation.
- In April, the U.S. Senate voted 52–44 to confirm Paul Atkins as the new chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins was officially sworn in as the 34th SEC chairman, succeeding the former crypto-critical chair, Gary Gensler. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, Atkins was confirmed by the Senate on April 9, 2025.
- Dismissed non-fraud crypto cases
- Under the Trump administration, the SEC may freeze or withdraw pending cryptocurrency cases that don’t involve fraud, moving away from former Chair Gary Gensler’s aggressive approach.
- Downsized the Crypto Assets Unit, created Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit
- In February, the SEC replaced its crypto enforcement task force with a smaller cyber unit focused on broader emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and social media.
- The new unit, with about 30 members, aims to protect investors while encouraging innovation and market growth. It is led by Laura D’Allaird, a former SEC enforcement division member.
- Repealed Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121)
- On January 24, 2025, the SEC rescinded its controversial Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which previously required companies to treat crypto assets held for users as liabilities.
- Under the new framework, companies will assess crypto-safeguarding obligations based on broader accounting standards such as U.S. GAAP and IFRS.
Ended Choke Point 2.0
On April 25, the Federal Reserve announced that it would revoke the 2022 regulatory guidance on banks’ crypto assets and U.S. dollar token businesses, eliminate the “regulatory no objection” procedures introduced in 2023, and withdraw the policy statement on crypto asset business risks that had previously been issued in collaboration with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Pardons
Ross Ulbricht
In January, Trump announced that he had signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace.
Ulbricht had been serving two life sentences plus 40 years for operating the platform, which facilitated illegal transactions using bitcoin. Silk Road, active from 2011 to 2013, allowed the anonymous sale of illicit goods. Ulbricht’s conviction, including charges of money laundering, computer hacking, and drug trafficking, became controversial, with supporters viewing him as a victim of government overreach and excessive sentencing for nonviolent crimes.
BitMEX Founders
In March, Trump also granted granted pardons to three co-founders of the BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange: Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, along with former executive Gregory Dwyer.
The men had pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to implement anti-money laundering and know-your-customer programs at BitMEX. They were sentenced to probation and fined $30 million for the violations.
Prosecutors had accused them of operating BitMEX as a “money laundering platform” and misrepresenting the exchange’s withdrawal from the U.S. market.
Personal/Family Crypto Projects
Meme Tokens
- Trump Coin
- In January, Trump released the $TRUMP memecoin, a Solana-based cryptocurrency promoted on his social media accounts. Initially, the token surged to a $9 billion market cap in just three hours, surpassing other popular memecoins like Pepe and Bonk.
- The total supply of the coin is 200 million, expanding to 1 billion over three years. A significant portion of the tokens (80%) is owned by entities affiliated with the Trump Group, subject to a three-year unlocking schedule.
- The launch contributed to a rise in Solana’s price, pushing it to a new all-time high.
- Melania Token
- Unveiled on Jan. 20, shortly after the $TRUMP coin, the $MELANIA token was launched by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. It is a memecoin issued by her company, MKT World LLC, and promoted via her social media as “The Official Melania Meme.”
Worth reading: 80% of Crypto Investors Bought President-Endorsed Memecoins, but Most Are Losing Money
World Liberty Financial
World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is a cryptocurrency venture tied closely to the Trump family that aims to democratize financial access via decentralized finance. Initially, WLFI was reported as a lending and borrowing crypto protocol, but it is not yet functional. Currently, the only available feature on its decentralized app is the ability to purchase its native token, $WLFI, using ETH, USDT, or USDC.
Last March, WLFI announced plans to launch USD1, a stablecoin fully backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar equivalents such as short-term treasuries and cash deposits. Targeted at institutional users, USD1 will initially launch on Ethereum and BSC, with reserves held by BitGo and audited by a third party.
Worth Reading: A Full List of Tokens Held by Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial
This article is published on BitPinas: Trump’s First 100 Days Were a Crypto-Fueled Return to the White House
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