The cryptocurrency industry is urging President Trump to prioritize his promised crypto policy overhaul through executive orders when he assumes office next month, industry officials said. Advocates are pushing for measures that could help mainstream digital tokens, including a strategic bitcoin reserve, improved banking access for crypto firms, and the establishment of a dedicated crypto council.
Trump, set to take office on January 20, is expected to issue a series of executive actions on various issues, from immigration to energy. The industry is pressing for at least one crypto-related order to be issued on his first day, with broader efforts focused on his first 100 days in office, according to sources familiar with the matter.
On the campaign trail, Trump positioned himself as a “crypto president,” courting the sector with promises to foster innovation and leadership. “There has been an effort in the Washington bureaucratic swamp to stifle innovation… but President Trump will deliver on his promise to encourage American leadership in crypto,” said Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team.
Trump’s crypto policy team is already taking shape, with key appointments like crypto-friendly Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair Paul Atkins and White House crypto advisor David Sacks.
A centerpiece of Trump’s crypto agenda is his plan for a strategic bitcoin reserve, first outlined in a July speech. Bitcoin prices briefly surged past $107,000 earlier this month following his renewed commitment to the proposal. The Bitcoin Policy Institute has already drafted a potential executive order designating bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset and allocating $21 billion for its accumulation over a year.
Another priority for the industry is ensuring access to traditional banking services, a long-standing issue for crypto firms facing regulatory scrutiny. Trump has pledged to prevent banks from “choking” crypto companies out of the financial system. Trump’s team is also discussing the creation of a crypto industry council to guide policy development. Executive orders could further address broader complaints about outdated regulations, potentially directing agencies to review and modernize crypto rules, similar to Trump’s 2017 banking reform directive.
