Three senior U.S. crypto policy officials have left or announced plans to leave their posts this summer, thinning the ranks of federal digital asset leadership as Congress pushes forward with market structure legislation. Tyler Williams, the Treasury's principal adviser on blockchain and digital asset policy, stepped down on July 31 to return to the private sector. Harry Jung, a member of the White House Crypto Council, said on July 20 he would leave within two weeks. And Hester Peirce, who leads the SEC's Crypto Task Force, plans to exit the agency later this year.
Treasury loses top digital asset adviser
Williams had been the Treasury's point person on crypto policy since the role was created. His departure leaves a gap in the department's ability to coordinate digital asset rules with other agencies. The Treasury did not name a replacement as of this week.
White House Crypto Council turnover
Jung's exit follows a broader shakeup in the White House's crypto advisory body. Patrick Witt, the council's executive director, deferred military training to stay in his post — a sign the administration is trying to hold onto experienced staff. But with Jung leaving and Peirce planning her exit, the council is losing two of its most visible members.
SEC's Peirce plans exit
Peirce, a Republican commissioner known for her pro-crypto stance, has led the SEC's Crypto Task Force since its creation. Her departure later this year will leave the SEC with only two sitting commissioners: Chair Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda. The agency can legally operate with just two seats filled, but a three-member commission is typical for major rulemakings.
Senate loses Lummis — but not yet
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), chair of the Senate Banking Committee's digital assets subcommittee, will not seek re-election and will leave the Senate when her term ends in January 2027. That's more than a year away, but her absence from the 2028 election cycle means the crypto-friendly lawmaker will be a lame duck for the remainder of this Congress.
CLARITY Act still alive
The departures come as the CLARITY Act — a bill that would settle where SEC authority ends and CFTC authority begins — cleared the Senate Banking Committee by a 15-9 vote. It still needs a floor vote and 60 votes to survive a filibuster. The House passed its own version, H.R. 3633, by 294-134 in July 2025. The Senate version would set registration rules for digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers, covering disclosures, conflicts of interest, financial responsibility, cybersecurity, and customer asset protection. Without CLARITY, platforms make listing, custody, and product decisions under agency interpretation, enforcement posture, and state rules that can change without a congressional vote.
The GENIUS Act, which set federal rules for stablecoins, became law last year. But the market structure piece remains unfinished — and the policy brain drain makes it harder to implement whatever Congress eventually passes.
