Cynthia Lummis retires from the Senate, the crypto industry loses a major ally

Everything changes, even what we thought was immutable. In the crypto universe, strong positions are no longer guaranteed. 2026 hasn’t even started and staggering announcements are falling. That of Senator Cynthia Lummis, a central figure of the pro-Bitcoin camp in Washington, is living proof. Her scheduled withdrawal from the Senate, announced for January 2027, marks a break in the relationship between American institutions and cryptocurrencies. A page turns. And for decentralization supporters, the question is simple: who will take up the torch?

Washington loses its “Bitcoin Senator”: a political shockwave

Cynthia Lummis, 71 years old, will not seek a second term. “I am a dedicated legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The necessary energy no longer follows,” she said in a statement, referring to the exhaustion from long Senate sessions. Yet, her aura was not diminished. Supported by Donald Trump, nicknamed the “Crypto Queen,” Lummis embodied a bridge between the libertarian culture of the blockchain and the old Republican guard.

Hardly the announcement was made, tributes poured in. Ji Kim, director of the Crypto Council for Innovation, praised:

Senator Lummis has been a leading champion for digital assets in Washington. The digital asset ecosystem is stronger thanks to her commitment, and we are grateful for her leadership.

Her decision comes as no figure as exposed appears ready to take her role in Senate debates. Harriet Hageman, possible replacement, remains silent on crypto-assets. In 2020, Lummis won her seat with a 46% lead. But 2026 promises to be more uncertain for crypto enthusiasts. The Senate might no longer be a terrain as favorable to blockchain innovations.

From GENIUS Act to Bitcoin Act: a heavy legacy

Lummis did not just talk Bitcoin, she legislated. In July, she got the GENIUS Act passed, the first federal text structuring the stablecoin market. This law, negotiated amid political turmoil, offers a clear framework for issuers like Circle or Tether. A feat in a fractured America.

At the same time, the senator proposed an idea as disruptive as it was ambitious: making bitcoin a national strategic reserve. The Bitcoin Act proposes a plan to purchase $80 billion in BTC over five years. Objective: to anticipate a global monetary shift.

Since 2022, she has also co-sponsored the bill on crypto market structure with her Democratic colleague Kirsten Gillibrand. But internal industry disagreements have slowed the debates. This text, if passed, would legalize the majority of crypto activities in the United States.

Lummis knew that without rules, chaos awaited. But she also knew that too much regulation would kill innovation. This process was exhausting but necessary, she confided, a few days after the commission was postponed to 2026.

After Cynthia Lummis, what future for the pro-crypto camp?

The timing is striking: the crypto market is trying to recover from two years of uncertainties. Without Lummis, the Senate loses its most technical and committed voice on Bitcoin, AI, and digital assets. Yet 2026 could be a turning point. The fight over the market structure bill is far from over. The fragmented crypto industry struggles to agree on priorities: lighter regulation or enhanced security?

A sober but eloquent tweet officially announced the departure: 

Thank you, Wyoming! Serving our state has been the honor of my life.

Meanwhile, other cryptos like Ethereum, Solana, or even XRP follow divergent regulatory trajectories. The lack of coherent leadership in the Senate could accentuate unequal treatment. And Washington, without Lummis, might close the chapter of constructive dialogues with the blockchain ecosystem.

Some key markers to understand the issue

• Cynthia Lummis was elected to the Senate in 2020 with over 46% lead;
• In July 2025, the GENIUS Act on stablecoins became law;
• The Bitcoin Act plans $80 billion in BTC in federal vaults;
• The “market structure bill” has been under negotiation since 2022, with no resolution;
• Harriet Hageman, possible replacement, has no public position on crypto-assets.

If the Lummis page closes soon, the book is not finished. Next January, she will still have a role to play. The Senate will then debate the Clarity Act, another key piece to define the legal status of cryptocurrencies in the United States. And once again, the Wyoming senator could well weigh in the balance.