House Dems Warn of Corruption in Trump’s Crypto Business Moves

“Through his meme coin, Trump has created a way to circumvent national security and anti-corruption laws, allowing interested parties to anonymously transfer money to him and his inner circle,” Waters said in a January 20 statement. “Buyers could include large corporations, allied nations who are pressed to show their ‘respect’ for the president, and our adversaries, like Russia and China, which have much to gain from influencing a Trump presidency.”

Waters argued that the token doesn’t just compromise Trump, but she said it taints the wider industry, “which has long fought for legitimacy and a level playing field with other financial institutions.” The California Democrat worked for months with former committee Chairman Patrick McHenry on a stablecoin regulation bill, but they failed to reach a bipartisan compromise. Waters will still be in a position to weigh in on crypto bills during this session.

Though Trump had promised fast action on cryptocy when he returned to the White House, the crypto industry isn’t yet among those benefiting from the extensive array of executive orders the president has already signed. So far, the most significant action from the overhauled U.S. government is the establishment of a crypto task force by the acting chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mark Uyeda.