Trump’s crypto bill loses its White House negotiator as Patrick Witt exits

President Donald Trump's crypto agenda has lost a White House negotiator as Patrick Witt confirms his departure and the administration's flagship digital-asset legislation remains stalled in Congress.

On Oct. 15, Patrick Witt, executive director of the White House Crypto Council, confirmed his departure after nearly two years in the administration, leaving the government for an undisclosed private-sector role.

In a farewell statement, Witt described his government service as the privilege of a lifetime, thanked Trump and Sacks for their leadership, and highlighted his role in advancing the administration's cryptocurrency agenda.

He pointed to the passage of the GENIUS Act, which established federal rules for payment stablecoins, and ongoing efforts to advance the CLARITY Act, legislation intended to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets.

His exit follows the departures of former council director Bo Hines in August 2025, White House crypto and artificial intelligence czar David Sacks in March, and deputy director Harry Jung in July. No replacement for Witt was identified in his farewell statement.

Witt's departure removes a central figure from negotiations over the CLARITY Act.

The House approved its version of the bill in 2025, but efforts to advance it through the Senate have encountered resistance over stablecoin rewards, banking competition and potential conflicts of interest involving Trump's cryptocurrency businesses.

Those disagreements contributed to the failure of an initial Senate procedural vote in September, leaving the legislation's prospects uncertain ahead of November's midterm elections.

Banks have pushed to restrict rewards offered on stablecoin holdings, arguing that such arrangements could divert deposits from traditional financial institutions. Cryptocurrency companies have resisted those restrictions, warning that they could undermine competition.

Democrats have also demanded stronger safeguards addressing Trump's financial interests in cryptocurrency ventures. Democrats questioned whether those restrictions could be enforced if the Justice Department, rather than states, decided whether to bring an action against the president.

Witt had served as a prominent White House intermediary among lawmakers, regulators and industry representatives. Days before the failed vote, he warned that losing the opportunity to advance legislation could delay comprehensive cryptocurrency rules for years.