Trump’s Crypto Appointees Give Up Billions to Join Administration

Several key figures in Donald Trump’s administration, many with deep cryptocurrency and Wall Street connections, have been forced to sell off billions in assets to comply with federal ethics rules. Despite these divestitures, concerns remain about their ongoing influence over financial policy.

David Sacks (AI & Crypto Policy Chief), Sold $200M+ in crypto holdings, including BTC, ETH, and SOL. Stepped down from Craft Ventures and divested $85M in direct crypto investments.

Howard Lutnick (Commerce Secretary Nominee) transferred control of Cantor Fitzgerald to his family. Left leadership roles at Newmark Group and BGC Group (which holds major government contracts). Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary Nominee), Reported $500M+ in investments and must divest completely. Selling a $500K stake in an iShares Bitcoin ETF.

Offloading $25M in properties in North Dakota & the Bahamas and $1M+ in antiques/art. Paul Atkins (SEC Chairman Nominee), Holds $327M in assets, including $6M in crypto. Had stakes in Securitize, Anchorage Digital, and Off the Chain Capital ($1M–$5M). Must divest all assets to meet ethics standards.

While his administration pushes officials to separate from financial interests, Trump himself remains heavily tied to crypto: His son’s DeFi platform, World Liberty Financial, is under scrutiny. Trump Media & Technology Group partnered with Crypto.com for a digital asset venture.

Launched an official meme coin before taking office, briefly boosting his net worth by $50B before its value crashed below $10B. Adding to the controversy, Elon Musk, now leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), holds significant crypto assets, sparking further accusations of conflicts of interest in the administration. As these high-profile figures take on government roles, the debate over financial influence in politics continues to intensify.

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