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06/08 01:50

Trump’s Top Economic Adviser Discloses Cryptocurre

Trump’s Top Economic Adviser Discloses Cryptocurrency Ties, $5M Coinbase Stake

Trump NEC Director Kevin Hassett owns between $1 million and $5 million in Coinbase, directly tying him to the cryptocurrency sector.

Hassett earned more than $1.5 million before his appointment, including consulting fees from Coinbase and major Wall Street firms.

Disclosure Raises Conflict of Interest Questions as Trump Pushes for Pro-Crypto Policy in the U.S.

Kevin Hassett, the head of Donald Trump’s second-term National Economic Council, just disclosed a major financial interest in Coinbase — and, as you might expect, it raised a few eyebrows in D.C.

According to a draft document released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Hassett owns between $1 million and $5 million in Coinbase stock.  That share comes from his previous advisory role on the exchange’s Academic and Regulatory Advisory Board, a group that includes several Trump-linked figures.

Hassett’s Million-Dollar Year: Cryptocurrency and Wall Street

Before taking his current role in January 2025, Hassett earned $1.5 million from a variety of sources. That includes salaries at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and the Milken Foundation, as well as $471,000 in speaking fees from giants like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Global Markets.

He also reported receiving $50,001 from Coinbase for his work on the advisory board, a figure that further cements his ties to one of America’s most prominent crypto firms.

 No divestment required — yet

Unlike cabinet members, White House officials, who are not subject to Senate confirmation, are not required to share detailed ethics plans or divest specific assets.  The disclosures do not currently confirm whether Hassett will divest her Coinbase shares, even as the White House shapes digital asset policy.

And timing is of the essence. Immediately after taking office, Trump signed an executive order creating a digital asset markets task force led by Hassett — an effort aimed at developing crypto-friendly regulation and bolstering fintech leadership in the U.S.

OGE in turmoil over deepening crypto ties

Trump’s second term has been slower in financial disclosures than 2017. Meanwhile, the OGE, the body charged with enforcing the company’s ethics rules, has faced its own challenges.  In February, Trump fired its head, David Withema, replacing him with Trade Representative Jamison Greer as acting director.

The shakeup comes as Trump’s staff is adding other crypto-related figures.

A look at Quintenz’s crypto portfolio

It seems to be a pattern now.  It’s been a few days since CFTC chairman nominee Brian Quintenz disclosed $3.4 million in assets apparently tied to crypto investment vehicles and prediction markets. A former CFTC commissioner and current policy director at a16z, Quintenz has vowed to sell the assets if confirmed.

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