Trump’s Treasury Pick Scott Bessent Moves to Divest Bitcoin to Avoid Conflict of Interest

Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump Donald Trump   Donald J. Trump is a US-based entrepreneur, Pro-crypto Politician, and the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America. He understands the importance and needs of the modern fintech world, and people look up to him as a dominant pro-crypto leader.   Quick Facts   Full name Donald John Trump Birth 14-06-1946, New York, United States Nationality American Education BS from the University of Pennsylvania Known For Businessman, Pro-Crypto Politician   Once doubtful about Bitcoindominance, he said in a tweet in 2019, “I am not a fan of Bitcoin", but now has a significant amount of cryptocurrency holdings in his kitty. He has also signed an Executive Order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which highlights his commitment to the future of cryptocurrency.   Donald Trump - Career Highlights & Events   2016 – Elected as the 45th President of the United States from the Republican Party.   2017 – Signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, impacting investment environments   2019 – Criticized Bitcoin and Libra on X, dubbing them as "not money"   2024 – Campaign signals potential openness to crypto-friendly reforms   2025 –  Elected as the 47th President of the United States from the Republican Party.   A meme coin, $TRUMP, is associated with Donald Trump, which is listed on the Solana blockchain platform. His family also backs World Liberty Financial (WLF), a crypto venture.     President pick for Treasury Secretary, plans to liquidate several of his investments, including holdings in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to avoid possible conflicts of interest if confirmed. Bessent, a billionaire hedge fund manager, filed his ethics agreement and financial disclosures ahead of his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing.

As reported by The New York Times,  disclosure revealed assets worth over $700 million, including between $250,000 and $500,000 in Bitcoin ETF investments. Bessent, who previously worked for billionaire philanthropist George Soros, has pledged to sell his investments in various funds, trusts, and other holdings to ensure there are no conflicts if confirmed as Treasury Secretary.

Hedge Fund Billionaire Files Ethics Plan

In addition to Bitcoin-related assets, Bessent disclosed other investments that could pose conflicts, such as a margin loan with goldman sachs goldman sachs - Multinational Investment Bank and a stake in the conservative publisher All Seasons. To comply with ethics requirements, Bessent has committed to avoiding any financial interests that might interfere with his duties at the Treasury Department.

Bessent’s latest hedge fund, Key Square Capital, was launched in 2016 with $4.5 billion in funds, including $2 billion from George Soros. However, it now manages much less money. Bessent’s previous fund, from the early 2000s, also had disappointing results.

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Bessent Backs Tax Cuts and Strong Dollar

As Treasury Secretary, Bessent would be tasked with managing the federal debt while navigating Trump’s plans to extend expiring tax cuts and eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. He is a strong proponent of tax reform and deregulation, aiming to boost bank lending and energy production. Bessent has also hinted at support for a strong U.S. dollar policy under the new administration.