The White House’s crypto policy apparatus is facing another leadership shake-up after Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, exited his temporary role. A White House official confirmed to The Block on Wednesday that Witt’s detail has expired, adding: ‘The White House appreciates his time and service to the Trump Administration, and wish him the best of luck in the future endeavors.’
Witt was the administration’s top crypto adviser and had led efforts to pass the Clarity Act, broad digital asset legislation. The House passed its version over a year ago, and Witt worked to guide Senate negotiations. However, the Senate version stalled over multiple issues, including a fight between banks and crypto firms on stablecoin rewards and ethics rules, and how to address President Donald Trump’s extensive crypto holdings. The latter issue contributed to the bill failing an initial procedural vote last month, as Democrats questioned whether language could be enforced given that the Justice Department, not states, would decide whether to bring enforcement action against the president.
The departure was first highlighted by Crypto In America’s Eleanor Terrett, who noted that Witt was a Department of Defense employee on temporary detail. Witt is the third top crypto lead to leave the White House: White House Crypto and AI Czar David Sacks departed in March after his special government employee term ended, and Witt’s deputy director Harry Jung left in July. Witt had originally planned to leave in July due to mandatory training for the Georgia Army National Guard, but said the training was postponed.
The White House did not say who would replace Witt. Blockchain Association Chief Policy Officer Lindsay Fraser praised Witt, saying: ‘The American digital asset industry wouldn’t be where it is today without Patrick Witt, who worked at the highest levels of government to make the United States the crypto capital of the world. He never lost sight of what American leadership in this technology demanded, and when the issues got hardest, he was the one who brought every side to the table and kept them there.’
The leadership vacuum and stalled Clarity Act leave the near-term direction of US digital asset policy uncertain, a development traders and investors are watching closely for signals on future crypto regulation.
