U.S. Treasury Secretary appoints Galaxy Digital’s Tyler Williams as a digital assets and blockchain policy advisor

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Scott Bessent, has reportedly appointed Tyler Williams, the head of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs and regulatory Counsel at Galaxy Digital, to advise on digital assets and blockchain policies. Williams previously held the position of deputy assistant treasury secretary under Steven Mnuchin. 

The new advisor to the Treasury Secretary has also handled financial regulation in the House of Representatives and Senate under Senator Thom Tillis and Congressmen John Boehner and Robert Hurt, respectively. Williams acquired a BA in Economics from Kenyon College and a graduate law degree from George Washington University School of Law, where he also lectures part-time.

Williams will work hand-in-hand with Bessent as part of the U.S. government departments mandated by the president to explore comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks. In his executive order to strengthen digital asset technology, President Trump announced that the Treasury would work alongside the crypto-focused Working Group to create regulatory clarity around digital assets. Trump further ordered the Treasury to prevent crypto use in illegal activities, balance crypto regulations, and ensure national security during crypto use.

In January, the Senate confirmed Scott Bessent as the successor to Janet Yellen as the new Treasury Secretary after a 68-29 vote. The billionaire, who had experience in hedge fund management, was Trump’s advisor before his official government appointment. Bessent argued in favor of digital assets during the Senate hearing, mentioning that crypto was ‘here to stay.’

Bessent doubled down on digital assets as a means to financial freedom, reaffirming his stance from a Grabien interview in July 2024. During the hearing, the Treasury Secretary also expressed his opposition to CBDCs, insisting that the U.S. did not require the currencies as an investment measure.

The appointments come after several Trump directives

The Bessent appointments follow several Trump directives concerning digital asset development in the country. At the beginning of the month, the president signed an executive order directing the Treasury and Commerce departments to create a sovereign wealth fund. The order outlined that the fund would aid the country’s long-term financial health and the U.S.’s leadership economically.

The Treasury and Commerce departments are required to submit their plan to President Trump within 90 days of the order’s signing. President Trump added that the departments were required to provide a governance strategy, funding mechanisms, fund structure, and investment options in the plan. The plan will also touch on any legislation establishing and managing the fund would require.

The president also mandated his administration to explore the establishment of a national strategic Bitcoin reserve after his inauguration. The statement urged different departments to consider the possibility of the U.S. acquiring a crypto stockpile ahead of competitors like China and Russia. However, the president still did not include the statement in any of the executive orders concerning digital asset technology.

An NBC report speculated that the order indicated the president’s willingness to deliver on his promises to the crypto community. President Trump recently reaffirmed his plans to establish a BTC reserve. Senator Elizabeth Warren is also exploring this option at the Federal level. Over 33 states are also working on Bitcoin reserve legislation.

Tyler Williams discusses crypto during a DC invite-only event

At an invite-only event in DC hosted by @chainlink @DigitalChamber and @kai_meta

Tyler Williams appointed to advise on digital assets and blockchain technology policy under the Treasury Secretary, said:
“We are excited to have a refreshed view from the government. Lots of… pic.twitter.com/zBCMv1x1sx

— Anastasia Golovina (@stasia_bk) February 26, 2025

The new digital assets and blockchain policy advisor spoke today during an invite-only event in DC hosted by Kai Meta, Digital Chamber, and Chainlink. He was joined by Chainlink’s co-founder Sergey Nazarov and Representative Bryan Steil. Williams commented on the recent developments concerning crypto and mentioned that he was ready to see the current government’s new perspective on digital assets.

The Treasury advisor further stated that many members of the Trump administration were looking forward to learning new ways to leverage digital assets to boost the U.S. economy. In his opinion, the U.S. had superior institutional and regulatory frameworks, adding that the U.S. regulatory position placed it ahead of the digital asset space. Williams insisted that the country could also seamlessly approach stablecoin regulations despite the rapid growth of the asset class.

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