National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett held between $1 million and $5 million in vested Coinbase shares at the end of 2025, according to a newly disclosed financial filing. The holding has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest because the Trump administration has pursued a broad cryptocurrency policy agenda, although the White House says Hassett is complying with ethics requirements and has recused himself from crypto related matters.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett continued to hold between $1 million and $5 million in vested Coinbase shares at the end of 2025, according to his latest financial disclosure, renewing questions about his potential conflicts of interest as the Trump administration develops cryptocurrency policy.
The disclosure comes as the administration has made digital assets a significant part of its economic agenda. The White House's National Economic Council has been involved in coordinating economic policy, while the administration's digital-assets working group was housed within the council.
Hassett previously had direct ties to Coinbase. His 2025 government disclosure listed him as a board member of Coinbase Asset Management's Academic and Regulatory Advisory Council from March 2021 until January 2025. The filing also lists his departure from several other private-sector positions when he entered government service.
The new disclosure indicates that Hassett retained a substantial financial interest in Coinbase after joining the Trump administration. Coinbase is one of the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges and has been affected by the administration's push to establish a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets.
Hassett said previously that he had recused himself from cryptocurrency matters while government ethics officials considered how his investment should be handled. The administration's digital-assets working group subsequently included Hassett's deputy as the National Economic Council's representative.
Former White House ethics lawyer Virginia Canter told CNBC that Hassett's Coinbase holding raised a "major conflict of interest" concern. She also questioned whether a broad recusal from cryptocurrency matters could limit Hassett's participation in an important part of the administration's economic policy agenda.
The White House, however, said Hassett remains in full compliance with its ethics requirements, including his recusal from crypto related matters. Federal conflict-of-interest law generally restricts government employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that could directly and predictably affect their financial interests, unless an applicable exemption or written waiver applies. The existence of a financial holding therefore does not by itself establish that an ethics violation has occurred.
The issue is particularly relevant because cryptocurrency regulation has become a major legislative and policy priority in Washington. The administration has supported efforts to establish clearer rules governing digital assets, while Congress has been considering legislation covering the regulatory treatment of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
Hassett remains one of the administration's senior economic policymakers. The White House's 2026 annual report lists him as assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council, with an annual salary of $195,200.
The disclosure places renewed attention on how senior officials manage investments in industries directly affected by government policy. While the White House says Hassett has complied with his ethics obligations, the Coinbase holding is likely to remain a focus as the administration continues shaping its cryptocurrency agenda.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to post comments.
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation!