Trump's Crypto Council Loses Its Head, No Successor Announced

Donald Trump’s Crypto Council has just lost its last known leader. Patrick Witt, its executive director, left his position after the expiration of his temporary assignment at the White House. He confirmed his departure on October 15, 2026, and announced his return to the private sector. No successor has been publicly designated, while the Clarity Act, one of the main American crypto reforms, remains blocked in the Senate.

The Last Leader of Trump’s Crypto Council Leaves

Patrick Witt no longer holds his position as executive director of the White House Crypto Council. A U.S. government official confirmed on Wednesday, October 14, that his temporary assignment had expired.

Witt was employed by the Department of Defense before being seconded to the White House. He took over leadership of the Council after Bo Hines’ departure in August 2025. His predecessor had then chosen to join the private sector before becoming a strategic advisor to Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin.

On Thursday, Witt publicly confirmed his departure on X. He described his time in the Trump administration as a privilege and said he wants to continue supporting American technological innovation from the private sector.

He did not specify which company he would join. His departure leaves the Council without a publicly identified leader. At this point, the White House has announced no replacement. The administration also has not indicated whether it plans to reorganize this body responsible for coordinating part of its policy on digital assets.

For Donald Trump, this is another change at the head of an entity created to support his ambition to make the United States the global capital of crypto.

Four Departures at the Top of American Crypto Policy

The list of officials who have left the setup is growing. Bo Hines started the series in August 2025. Patrick Witt succeeded him a few weeks later. In March 2026, David Sacks also left his position as special advisor for crypto and artificial intelligence after reaching the 130-day limit applicable to his status as a special government employee.

Harry Jung, deputy director of the Council, then left in July. With Witt’s departure, the four individuals who held these main roles no longer work in their respective positions within the initial setup.

This does not mean that American crypto policy stops. The SEC, CFTC, and Treasury retain their regulatory powers. Congress also continues its legislative work, independently of the Council’s composition.

Industry reactions remain positive toward Witt. Lindsay Fraser, public policy lead at the Blockchain Association, praised his work to bring different parties together around regulatory negotiations.

Kristin Smith, president of the Solana Policy Institute, also emphasized his involvement in discussions on the structure of the crypto market. However, successive departures reduce the number of direct contacts associated with the White House Council. And one of the main files followed by Witt has still not been resolved.

The Clarity Act Loses Its Main Negotiator

Patrick Witt had devoted a large part of his term to the Clarity Act. This bill aims to establish a federal framework for American digital assets. It notably seeks to clarify the respective responsibilities of the SEC and the CFTC.

The House of Representatives had adopted a first version in July 2025. In the Senate, negotiations have been markedly more difficult. On September 15, 2026, senators failed to advance the bill during a procedural vote. The motion obtained 49 votes in favor against 50 oppositions, while 60 votes were needed.

Two disagreements dominated the discussions. The first concerned remuneration paid on stablecoins, which U.S. banks largely oppose when they operate as interest on deposits.

The second concerned potential conflicts of interest of politicians owning crypto activities, particularly Donald Trump. Witt directly participated in seeking compromises between lawmakers, industry companies, and the administration.

His departure therefore deprives the negotiations of an experienced interlocutor. However, it does not mean the official abandonment of the Clarity Act.

Senators can resume discussions or organize a new vote attempt. However, the schedule is becoming tight as the parliamentary session approaches its end. Cointribune had already explained why the Senate can still relaunch the Clarity Act despite its September failure. For now, no successor to Patrick Witt has been announced, and no new vote date is confirmed. Trump’s Crypto Council therefore finds itself without an identified leader, at a time when its main reform is still awaiting an outcome in Congress.