Author: Zhou Zhou, Foresight News

Previously, there were the "Silicon Valley Eight Traitors", and now there are Trump's "White House Eight Generals". The former pioneered a new era of technological innovation in the US, while the latter are shaking up the crypto industry.

Unlike the "crypto strict regulation" style of the Biden administration, the "crypto-friendly wind" of the Trump era is blowing across the US political and business circles. And the "crypto advisory team" that Trump has assembled for cryptocurrencies is a group of staunch supporters of cryptocurrencies in the government, some of whom can even be called radical.

This is also related to the background of the members of the "crypto advisory team", who are either famous members of the PayPal mafia in Silicon Valley or the most prominent supporters of crypto at the SEC and CFTC.

Trump himself has a traceable "track record" and "influence" in cryptocurrencies. From November 2024 to the present, he has led three major market trends. In November 2024, a month after Trump won the election, the crypto market, including the Altcoin market, rose across the board for a full month; on January 18, 2025 (just two days before Trump officially took office as president), Trump announced the issuance of the memecoin - Trump, and its market value reached $80 billion in three days, draining the entire crypto market, with all cryptocurrencies except Trump plummeting on that day, and Trump's wife also issued a memecoin, which became a key turning point for the crypto market to turn from prosperity to decline.

And this month (March 2), Trump has taken action again, announcing the promotion of BTC, ETH, Sol, ADA, and XRP as five cryptocurrencies to be included in the national reserves, and BTC and other cryptocurrencies have risen across the board again in a single day, ending a week of continuous decline, and the crypto market has cooled down again after the news hype. It can be said that almost every time the Trump team releases news, it can cause significant fluctuations in the crypto market.

And the "crypto advisors" behind Trump are undoubtedly masters of playing the crypto game. Not only are they in high positions of power and serving as the top decision-makers in various important positions in the US, but they also have very clear and even radical attitudes towards cryptocurrencies. It is foreseeable that they will continue to have a profound and lasting impact on the development of the entire crypto industry in 2025 and even the next four years.

On this occasion, I have compiled a list of the eight key figures around Trump who are currently and will continue to have a direct and significant impact on the crypto currency industry. They are the Crypto Tsar David Sacks, the current Acting SEC Chairman Mark T. Uyeda, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, Crypto Mom Hester Peirce, the current CFTC Chairman Brian Quintenz, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Vice President JD Vance.

Crypto Tsar David Sacks: Bitcoin has the potential to become the next generation of the Internet

David Sacks is a key driver of the White House's first crypto summit to be held on March 7.

David Sacks is one of the most critical figures in Trump's crypto advisory team. On January 23, 2025, Trump signed an executive order establishing the "President's Digital Asset Market Working Group", which is led by David Sacks.

On December 5, 2024, Trump announced through his Truth Social platform that David Sacks would be the "White House AI and Crypto Tsar". Trump stated in the announcement that David Sacks would "guide the government's policies on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies" and "strive to make the US a global leader in these two fields".

David Sacks and Trump

The Crypto Tsar is a new position established by Trump to drive the development of cryptocurrencies. He is responsible for coordinating the federal government's regulatory policies on cryptocurrencies, with highly concentrated power, and can quickly contact the SEC, Treasury Department, Commerce Department and other cross-departmental cooperation to promote the crypto agenda.

David Sacks is a highly visionary investor and entrepreneur. As early as 2013, he expressed his optimism about Bitcoin, stating on social media at the time: "Bitcoin has the potential to become the next Internet - the Internet of Money. I'm buying in." He started buying Bitcoin in 2012 and has stated on multiple occasions that Bitcoin's transformative potential lies in its potential as a "non-fiat currency". He believes that Bitcoin is not dependent on the government, but is supported by mathematics and cryptography, providing a financial system independent of government control.

David Sacks is not only a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, but also a founding member of the PayPal team, with close ties to Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who are all part of the "PayPal Mafia". David Sacks also worked closely with Musk in his acquisition of Twitter in 2022.

In 2017, David Sacks founded the venture capital firm Craft Ventures and invested heavily in crypto and AI startups, participating in the early investments of crypto companies such as dYdX and Lightning Labs.

Acting SEC Chairman Mark T. Uyeda: The war on crypto must end

"The war on crypto must end. We need safe harbors and regulatory sandboxes to allow innovation to thrive," Uyeda said in a November 23, 2024 interview with Stuart Varney.

Uyeda is the current Acting SEC Chairman, known for his crypto-friendly attitude.

Previously, he has long opposed the SEC's regulation of the crypto industry through enforcement actions rather than clear rules under the leadership of former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, believing that this approach has had a disastrous impact on the industry's development. He and Peirce have also jointly opposed the SEC's rejection of Coinbase's rulemaking request, arguing that the SEC should actively respond to the industry's needs.

On the left is former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, and on the right is current Acting SEC Chairman Mark T. Uyeda

After taking office as Acting SEC Chairman, Uyeda quickly took action, announcing the establishment of a new "Crypto Task Force" on January 21, 2025, led by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, with the aim of developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.

After taking office, Uyeda immediately nominated another crypto-friendly former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins as the permanent SEC Chairman (though he still needs to be confirmed by the Senate).

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins: Digital assets are the key innovation to make America great again

Whether it's Crypto Mom Hester Peirce or the current Acting SEC Chairman Mark T. Uyeda, they have both served as lawyers on the private team of the then SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins and have maintained long-term relationships with him.

Paul Atkins was appointed by Trump as the SEC Chairman (acting), but still needs to be confirmed by the Senate. After being nominated by Trump as the permanent SEC Chairman in January 2025, he stated: "Digital assets are the key innovation to make America great again. The SEC's role is to support vibrant and innovative capital markets, not to suppress new technologies with outdated frameworks."

Atkins is widely seen as a staunch supporter of cryptocurrencies, and he has won widespread support from the crypto community, with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Gemini exchange's Cameron Winklevoss publicly praising his nomination, believing it will bring "common-sense regulation" to digital assets.

Atkins is also the current CEO of Patomak Global Partners, a consulting firm for the financial and cryptocurrency industries.

Atkins will form a pro-crypto policy team with other Trump financial officials, such as Bitcoin-supporting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Crypto Mom Hester Peirce: DeFi is the testing ground for financial democratization

During Biden's presidency, Hester Peirce was the most supportive voice for crypto innovation within the SEC. She said: "DeFi is the testing ground for financial democratization."

In 2018, she made a statement: "We may be entering a new era where all transactions in the financial markets are recorded on the blockchain... We should welcome this possibility rather than try to eliminate it."

And now Hester Peirce has also become a key female figure in the Trump administration's staff, known for her open attitude towards cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Peirce was appointed as an SEC commissioner in 2018 and has repeatedly expressed her support for cryptocurrency innovation during her tenure.

In 2018, when dissenting on the rejection of the Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF, she said: "The SEC's reasons for rejecting the Bitcoin ETF are untenable, we have deprived investors of choice without evidence that the market would be harmed." It was this stance that first earned her the title of "Crypto Mom" in the crypto community.

Crypto Mom Hester Peirce

Peirce's main contributions to cryptocurrencies include: believing that the SEC's overly strict regulations hinder the innovation of the crypto industry, repeatedly criticizing the SEC's rejection of Bitcoin spot ETF approvals, and advocating for a clearer regulatory framework for decentralized finance (DeFi).

In 2020, Peirce also proposed a "Safe Harbor" proposal, which suggested allowing crypto projects to be exempt from strict securities law restrictions for 3 years, so that projects could develop and achieve decentralization without the threat of SEC regulation. Although this proposal was not adopted by the SEC, it sparked widespread discussion in the industry. She is also one of the few SEC commissioners who support the listing of a Bitcoin ETF.

On March 3, 2025, the SEC announced the member list of the "SEC Crypto Task Force", further confirming Peirce's leadership of this task force.

CFTC Chairman Brian Quintenz: Bitcoin is a Commodity, Just Like Gold or Oil

"Bitcoin is a commodity, just like gold or oil," said Brian Quintenz, the current CFTC Chairman.

Brian Quintenz was previously the policy chief of the cryptocurrency division at a16z. Now, he has become the current chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Currently, he is seen as one of the key figures in the Trump administration pushing for cryptocurrency policy.

Brian Quintenz was nominated by President Donald Trump and officially confirmed by the Senate in February 2025.

During his tenure as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, he led the agency's Technology Advisory Committee and hosted multiple public policy discussions and briefings on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. He actively advocated for a "gentle" regulation of cryptocurrencies, emphasizing that innovation should not be stifled while protecting investors.

He has pushed for the launch of the first regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts on U.S. derivatives exchanges, demonstrating his in-depth understanding and supportive attitude towards the crypto market.

Brian Quintenz supports viewing most crypto assets as commodities rather than securities, which is consistent with CFTC's jurisdiction. He has publicly questioned the SEC's stance on assets like Ethereum, arguing that if Ethereum is considered a security, its futures contracts would be illegal. He has pushed for CFTC to be the primary regulator of the crypto market, to avoid the strict framework of the SEC.

After leaving the CFTC, Brian Quintenz joined the cryptocurrency division of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a policy chief, dedicated to promoting regulatory reforms favorable to the crypto industry.

In terms of personal investments, Brian Quintenz has invested in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, demonstrating his confidence in crypto assets.

At the national level, Brian Quintenz is also an active supporter of cryptocurrencies. "A national crypto reserve is not a dream, but a strategy, and the CFTC will work with the government to explore how Bitcoin can enhance the resilience of the U.S. economy," he said at a summit in March 2025.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: Cryptocurrencies are About Freedom, a National Crypto Reserve is Not a Dream

"A national crypto reserve is not a dream, but a strategy, and Bitcoin can enhance the resilience of the U.S. economy," current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in January 2025.

Scott Bessent is a radical cryptocurrency supporter. He has predicted that the price of Bitcoin will reach $980,000. According to the U.S. government's Office of Government Ethics financial disclosure released in January 2025, Bessent holds a BlackRock Bitcoin spot ETF (IBIT) valued between $250,000 and $500,000.

Scott Bessent in the image

Scott Bessent is the founder of Key Square Capital Management and has served as a partner and chief investment officer at George Soros' Soros Fund Management.

Bessent has publicly expressed his support for cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin. He believes that cryptocurrencies represent "freedom" and are a key component of financial system innovation. In a July 2024 interview with Fox Business, he stated: "Cryptocurrencies are about freedom, and the crypto economy will exist in the long run." He also pointed out that Bitcoin is attractive to the younger generation and those outside the traditional banking system, and can "cultivate a market culture in America."

He supports Trump's proposal to establish a national strategic Bitcoin reserve, believing that this can position the U.S. as a global leader in digital assets.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: Bitcoin, That's the Future of the Economy!

"Bitcoin, that's the future of the economy!" current U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said in public speeches.

Lutnick has a positive attitude towards cryptocurrencies, having publicly supported Bitcoin and other digital assets. He has compared Bitcoin to gold and advocated for its global free trade. In February 2025, Howard Lutnick was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new Commerce Secretary.

Prior to this, Lutnick served as the CEO of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which is a key partner of the world's largest stablecoin Tether (USDT), responsible for managing a portion of Tether's reserve assets (including U.S. Treasuries).

As the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has actively supported Tether (USDT) and vouched for the legitimacy of its reserves. He pointed out that as a primary U.S. government bond trader, Cantor Fitzgerald is able to meet large-scale redemption demands, ensuring the stability of Tether.

Lutnick has also posted on X saying: "Tether is the pillar of the crypto economy, and those who question it don't understand modern finance."

Vice President JD Vance: The First Presidential Candidate to Own Bitcoin

Current U.S. Vice President JD Vance is the first presidential candidate in American history to own Bitcoin.

Vance has repeatedly viewed Bitcoin as a tool to resist government control of finance. In his 2024 campaign, he stated: "Bitcoin represents a decentralized future that we need to protect from bureaucracy." While he did not explicitly support Trump's "National Bitcoin Reserve" plan, his rhetoric echoed this vision.

In 2022, when the Canadian government froze the bank accounts of participants in the Ottawa truck driver protests, Vance posted: "This is why cryptocurrencies are thriving - if your political views are wrong, the government will cut off your access to banking services."

According to public disclosures in 2023, Vance held between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of Bitcoin (BTC) through Coinbase. After being nominated as the vice presidential candidate in 2024, Vance liquidated his personal Bitcoin holdings in late July 2024 to avoid potential conflicts of interest. This was consistent with his wife Usha Vance's simultaneous resignation from the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson (which had previously provided legal services to Coinbase).

Like the crypto czar David Sacks, Vance's career in Silicon Valley has allowed him to establish deep connections with tech leaders who support crypto. In 2019, Vance co-founded the venture capital firm Narya Capital with PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and others, focusing on tech startups in the Midwest. After being elected to the Senate in 2022, he resigned from his partner role but still holds at least $500,000 in shares of the company.

In Conclusion

Trump has become the person who can most influence the crypto industry ecosystem in the world today.

His aggressive attitude towards cryptocurrencies is partly due to Trump's personal inclination, and partly due to the long-standing attitude of his core team members and core supporters towards cryptocurrencies.

In 2013, the crypto czar David Sacks began publicly supporting Bitcoin, as a founding team member of PayPal, he believed that BTC was consistent with PayPal's original dream of establishing a global currency. And in 2018, when Peirce was still an SEC commissioner and Quintenz was still a CFTC commissioner, they publicly criticized the authorities for being too harsh in regulating the crypto industry, and now they have become the leaders of the SEC and CFTC.

When an arrow that has been building up for seven years is shot towards 2025 and hits the bull's-eye, the energy it unleashes will continue to expand.