In a recent interview with CNBC, Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, a prominent advocate for crypto assets, discussed the potential for significant regulatory changes following the upcoming US elections.
With just under two months until voters head to the polls, Lummis emphasized the need for a robust digital asset framework to support the US economy.
Lummis Urges Congress To Lead In Crypto Regulation
While there has been notable progress, including the approval of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest directly in major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), Lummis pointed out that the US still lags behind the European Union’s ineffective regulation.
The Senator highlighted that the EU began implementing its regulatory framework in January 2023. Lummis expressed concern that the US should not have allowed other nations to take the lead in financial services.
Commenting on recent statements made by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler earlier this week, in which he stressed the need for further investor protection in the industry, Lummis argued that the SEC’s current approach – characterized by enforcement actions rather than clear regulatory guidance – has hindered the growth of the crypto industry.
Lummis asserted that Congress should take the reins in regulating this sector, criticizing the SEC for claiming it possesses the necessary tools while instead pursuing court cases against alleged bad actors under the current Biden administration.
Lummis Questions Gensler’s Future At SEC
Regarding Gensler’s future at the SEC, Lummis noted that if former President Donald Trump were to be reelected, he has indicated intentions to fire Gensler immediately. However, she was less certain about Gensler’s fate in the event of a Kamala Harris victory.
When discussing the prospect of a divided Congress—where the House could be Democratic and the Senate Republican—Lummis expressed optimism that a Republican-controlled Senate would be more beneficial for digital assets.
The Senator highlighted that Tim Scott’s potential chairmanship of the Banking Committee would lead to a stronger push for a statutory framework for digital assets, contrasting this with the current leadership under Sherrod Brown.
This comes as Lummis has also been actively proposing legislation to solidify the US position in the crypto space. On July 31, she introduced a bill to establish a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” program.
This initiative would direct the US Treasury to acquire one million Bitcoins over five years, likening the program to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Lummis believes that such a substantial Bitcoin accumulation could reinforce the value of the US dollar and play a crucial role in addressing the national debt, which currently stands at $35 trillion.
At the time of writing, the largest cryptocurrency on the market has climbed to $66,000 for the first time in over two months, following a substantial 12% rise in September.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com