President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, a move that brings a staunchly pro-crypto regulator to the top of the U.S. intelligence community. Pulte, 38, will keep his current job as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving as acting DNI. The appointment doesn't need Senate confirmation, and it's already drawing cheers from Bitcoin holders — and sharp criticism from lawmakers.
Pulte's crypto record
Pulte is best known in crypto circles for ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to recognize cryptocurrency in mortgage assessments starting in June 2025. That policy removed the requirement for borrowers to liquidate digital assets before getting a loan. Then in March 2026, he expanded it further: for the first time, crypto reserves held on U.S.-regulated exchanges with strict custody rules could back mortgages directly. Pulte's personal financial disclosures list holdings in Bitcoin, Solana, and MARA Holdings; his spouse's crypto exposure reaches up to $2 million.
Pushback from the Hill
The pick raised eyebrows in national security circles. Senator Mark Warner criticized the selection, arguing it prioritizes a desired narrative over the intelligence the country needs. Vice President JD Vance defended the appointment, saying Pulte recognizes the intelligence community must respond to elected leadership. Pulte himself has no intelligence or national security background — a fact his critics were quick to highlight.
What Bitcoiners see
The crypto crowd took the news as a win. David Bailey, a prominent figure in the space, noted the celebration among Bitcoin holders. The acting DNI role gives Pulte control over 18 intelligence agencies, and his pro-crypto stance suggests digital assets may get a friendlier ear at the highest levels of government. The move also means the FHFA stays under Pulte's direction, which could accelerate further integration of crypto into housing finance.
Pulte now holds two of the most powerful jobs in Washington — one overseeing housing finance, the other the nation's spy agencies. How long he stays in the acting role, and whether his dual mandate shapes crypto policy beyond housing, remains an open question.
