Trump Taps Pro-Crypto Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary Role

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent, a seasoned hedge fund manager and outspoken cryptocurrency advocate, as his choice for Treasury Secretary.

If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would bring a distinctly pro-digital asset perspective to the Treasury, becoming the next official to lend their signature to U.S. paper currency while championing the potential of crypto to reshape the financial system.

Source: X

Bessent, the founder of macro investing firm Key Square Group, boasts an illustrious career that includes a pivotal role at George Soros’ Soros Fund Management. Famously, he was instrumental in the firm’s billion-dollar bet against the British pound during the 1992 “Black Wednesday” currency crisis, a move that cemented his reputation in the world of high-stakes finance. Now, his focus has shifted toward the burgeoning crypto economy.

In a July interview with Fox Business, Bessent praised the alignment of cryptocurrency with Republican ideals. “Crypto is about freedom, and the crypto economy is here to stay,” he said, emphasizing its appeal to younger investors and its role in democratizing market participation. Bessent also lauded Trump’s pro-crypto stance, suggesting it reflects a broader ethos of innovation and economic liberty within the party.

Bessent’s nomination comes amid a period of surging interest in digital assets, with Bitcoin approaching the $100,000 milestone and the global crypto market cap hitting $3.4 trillion. The move has sparked excitement within the crypto community, particularly as other prominent figures in Trump’s cabinet, like Commerce Secretary pick Howard Lutnick, also share a connection to digital finance. Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has worked with Tether to manage the extensive U.S. Treasury reserves backing its USDT stablecoin since 2021.

Speculation around Bessent’s nomination had been mounting, with traders on prediction platform Polymarket consistently ranking him as a frontrunner. His potential confirmation signals not just a shift in leadership at the Treasury but a broader embrace of cryptocurrency as a transformative force within the U.S. economy.