Republicans nominate pro-crypto reps to lead key House committees 

Rep. French Hill was nominated to chair the House Financial Services Committee

article-image

US Congressman French Hill | Congressman French Hill Facebook page modified by Blockworks

share


This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.


It’s that time of the year: Republicans are finalizing their picks for House committee and subcommittee chairs. 

For eagle-eyed crypto fans, you probably saw Rep. French Hill was nominated to chair the House Financial Services Committee. Also of note, Glenn Thompson is slated to hold on to his position as Agriculture Committee chair.

Let’s run through what these representatives have said about crypto and what could be in store for policy next session: 

French Hill 

Hill was the first-ever chair of the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, serving for the past two years. 

Chair Maxine Waters created the subcommittee during the 116th Congress. It was expanded to also include crypto matters this session under Chair Patrick McHenry, who did not run for re-election. Since broadening its scope, subcommittee hearings have been held on DeFi, crypto market structure and the role of federal agencies. 

Hill received bipartisan support Thursday following his nomination announcement. Democrat Ritchie Torres, a fellow crypto-friendly rep, said he looks forward to continued bipartisan cooperation next session. 

Glenn Thompson 

You may be wondering what the Agriculture Committee has to do with finance. But this group actually tackles a lot of pressing issues, specifically with commodities and derivatives markets. As many crypto advocates push for more regulation from the CFTC and less from the SEC, the Ag Committee could prove crucial. 

Thompson introduced the Digital Commodity Exchange Act last session — a bill that went on to influence FIT21, which passed through the Ag Committee and later the full House with backing from both parties. A major part of the legislation is granting the CFTC authority to oversee crypto spot markets, a distinction agency leadership and industry actors have supported. 

Thompson, a co-sponsor of FIT21, said last year the legislation had been drafted based on “extensive feedback from stakeholder and market participants.” 

The bill “aims to close existing authority gaps, ensuring US leadership in financial and technological innovation,” he added. 

Committee nominees must be ratified by the House Republican Conference, which is expected to meet next week. 

Meanwhile, over in the Senate, there’s still no word on if (or when) senators will vote to confirm SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw before Congress recesses next week. 

Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown on Wednesday attributed the delay to Republican senators heeding “corporate special interests and standing in the way of [Crenshaw’s] nomination.” 

Next week should be interesting.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates (3).png

Research

Pear Protocol has proven its market fit through its pair-trading infrastructure, sustaining consistent trading activity despite recent headwinds. Its strategic pivot toward Hyperliquid integration represents a major growth catalyst amid industry consolidation. While short-term token unlocks present challenges, current valuations and liquidity conditions may offer compelling opportunities for investors.

article-image

The House embraces crypto — but keeps the fences up

article-image

The network got slower in June — and it wasn’t for tech-related reasons

article-image

After a jittery few months, recent economic data is hinting at a resilient economy that is beginning to re-accelerate

article-image

The stablecoin bill now heads to the president’s desk

article-image

The House on Thursday passed the CLARITY Act, a landmark cryptocurrency market structure bill

article-image

Interchain Labs will focus on sovereign L1s and institutional demand, abandoning plans for smart contracts on the Cosmos Hub