The Federal Reserve has a new boss, and he comes with a crypto portfolio that would make most DeFi degens raise an eyebrow. Kevin Warsh was officially sworn in as Fed Chair on May 22, 2026, after a confirmation process that turned into something of a masterclass in how Washington handles conflicts of interest in the digital asset age.
President Donald Trump nominated Warsh on January 30, 2026, tapping a former Fed governor who served during the 2008 financial crisis to replace Jerome Powell at the helm of the world’s most powerful central bank. Bitcoin was trading near $77,000 around the time of his swearing-in.
A Fed chair with blockchain on the balance sheet
Warsh’s financial disclosures revealed holdings in more than 20 blockchain entities. That list includes dYdX, the decentralized derivatives exchange, and Solana, the Layer 1 blockchain that has become a cornerstone of the crypto ecosystem.
He pledged during his Senate confirmation hearings to divest from those crypto investments to avoid conflicts of interest. During those April 2026 hearings, Warsh characterized digital assets as “integral to the financial services industry.” His most quotable moment came when he described Bitcoin’s cultural significance.
