Trump adviser Hassett discloses $1M–$5M stake in Coinbase
Kevin Hassett reveals major Coinbase investment
Kevin Hassett, a senior economic adviser to President Donald Trump and current director of the National Economic Council, has disclosed holding a stake in Coinbase Global Inc. valued between $1 million and $5 million.
The revelation, filed with the Office of Government Ethics, has sparked debate over potential conflicts of interest as digital asset regulation continues to evolve in Washington, Bloomberg reported.
According to the draft financial disclosure, the Coinbase shares are categorized as vested stock. The document also lists Hassett’s total assets at a minimum of $7.6 million. His Coinbase compensation includes a $50,001 salary for serving on the company’s Academic and Regulatory Advisory Council.
Hassett’s Coinbase role and financial disclosures
The Coinbase stake stems from Hassett’s role as an adviser on the exchange’s Academic and Regulatory Advisory Council. He shares the board with notable former government officials including ex-SEC Chair Jay Clayton and former CIA General Counsel Courtney Elwood. Coinbase paid him a salary of $50,001 for this advisory position.
His disclosure further reveals additional income from prominent academic and financial institutions. Prior to reentering public service in January, Hassett earned $1.5 million from the Hoover Institution and the Milken Foundation. He also amassed speaking fees totaling nearly half a million dollars from Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Regulatory implications and ethical scrutiny
Though the disclosure has yet to draw formal criticism from ethics experts, the timing is sensitive. Hassett’s dual role—as both a high-ranking policymaker and adviser to a crypto firm—could complicate the administration’s position on crypto regulations. This is because Hassett is directly involved with both cryptocurrency and macroeconomic policy at the White House,
Analysts note the situation underscores a growing trend of crossover between Washington and the crypto industry, as Hassett is not the only official in the new Trump team who has invested in the cryptosphere. Paul Atkins, the new head of the SEC, and Brian Quintenz, a candidate to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), also showed such investments in their declarations.
As crypto regulations increasingly move to the forefront of U.S. economic policy, Hassett’s financial ties to Coinbase may attract further scrutiny. The final approval of the disclosure by the Office of Government Ethics could determine whether concerns about influence are warranted or overblown.
In addition, we reported earlier that Coinbase data breach exposes 70,000 users, sparks KYC scrutiny.
