Morning Minute: Decrypt Names Trump as Crypto Person of the Year
Donald Trump was named Decrypt’s Crypto Person of the Year for 2024–2025, reflecting his outsized impact on the industry’s political relevance in the U.S. During his administration and campaign, crypto moved from being treated as a threat to a strategic asset, bringing issues like stablecoins, Bitcoin mining, and regulatory clarity to the center of policy debates. Trump’s actions opened the American market to crypto, spurring ETF approvals, institutional adoption, a surge in stablecoin use, and renewed confidence among crypto entrepreneurs. However, Trump’s involvement has sparked significant criticism, including concerns over conflicts of interest, the launch of personal NFT and meme coin ventures, his family’s business ties in crypto, the pardoning of crypto criminals, and the increasing partisan divide around crypto policy. While Trump’s influence has legitimized crypto, it has also raised questions about scams and ethical governance. Ultimately, his impact is seen as both highly positive in terms of industry growth and access but accompanied by substantial reputational risks. The long-term net effect of Trump’s crypto leadership remains uncertain.
