White House Crypto Adviser Exits as Washington’s Digital Asset Agenda Shifts

Patrick Witt announced last week that he is leaving his position at the White House.

Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, is departing government service to return to the private sector. His exit raises questions about the council’s future leadership and its role in shaping U.S. crypto policy.

Who will lead crypto policy at the White House?

The White House currently has no publicly identified head of cryptocurrency policy. Witt, the latest adviser to President Donald Trump on digital assets, confirmed his departure last week, and no replacement has been announced.

Why it matters

Although Washington’s attention is largely focused on next month’s midterm elections, the executive branch continues to work on regulations and other digital asset policy initiatives. Once the new Congress takes office next year, the administration will likely need a designated White House representative to coordinate with lawmakers on cryptocurrency legislation.

Breaking it down

CoinDesk’s Jesse Hamilton examined the apparent vacancy in the White House’s crypto advisory role in an analysis published last week.

A White House official told Hamilton that cryptocurrency and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act would remain priorities for the Trump administration.

However, Witt’s departure, following the earlier exits of Harry Jung and Bo Hines, raises questions about how the administration plans to maintain that focus.

In 2027, the White House is expected to face several challenges. These include renewed efforts to advance crypto legislation, potentially beginning with tax measures before moving to market structure reforms. The administration may also have to work with a more difficult Congress if Democrats win control of the House of Representatives.

At the same time, regulatory work on digital assets is continuing across several agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Treasury Department.

This week

No relevant congressional hearings are scheduled for this week.

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