Former college football player Bo Hines has been appointed by Donald Trump to lead the newly formed “Crypto Council” in his upcoming administration.
Appointment and Leadership
On December 22, Trump shared this news on his social media platform, Truth Social, announcing that Hines, who ran as a Republican for a U.S. House seat in North Carolina in 2022, will head the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. David Sacks, chosen by Trump for his expertise in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, will oversee the council’s operations.
In his new role, Hines will work closely with Sacks to drive innovation and support growth within the digital assets space. Their aim is to ensure industry leaders have access to the resources they need to thrive in this fast-evolving sector.
Background and Support
Hines made a bid for the North Carolina U.S. House seat last year but fell short against his Democratic opponent, Wiley Nickel. During his campaign, he garnered support from pro-crypto political action committees (PACs), receiving backing from entities like the American Dream Federal Action super PAC. It’s worth noting that former FTX CEO Ryan Salame, currently imprisoned on various charges, reportedly funneled $13.4 million into Republican campaigns, including Hines’.
Additionally, Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), as the senior adviser for AI policy within the Crypto Council. Krishnan expressed his excitement about this new responsibility, eager to collaborate with David Sacks and contribute to the U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
Commitment to Cryptocurrency
These recent appointments reflect Trump’s strong commitment to the cryptocurrency landscape. He has expressed intentions to position the U.S. as a leader in the crypto space and has attracted considerable financial support from key figures in this industry during his presidential campaign. His advisory team also features well-known advocates like billionaire Elon Musk.
Moreover, on December 4, Trump nominated former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto entrepreneur, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. This decision has generated optimism among industry leaders, who hope it may lead to a more lenient regulatory approach towards the cryptocurrency sector.
Source: Cointelegraph
