Trump Appoints Pro-Crypto Former Football Player Bo Hines to Digital Assets Council

President-elect Donald Trump has named Bo Hines, known for his pro-crypto stance, to serve as the Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform on Dec. 22, explaining that the Council is a new advisory group “composed of luminaries from the crypto industry” and chaired by Crypto Czar David Sacks.

Hines, a former Yale football player and Republican congressional candidate, will collaborate with Sacks to promote innovation and growth in the digital assets sector. According to Trump, Hines will help ensure that industry leaders have the necessary resources to thrive while fostering advancements in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.

Trump’s move aligns with his broader efforts to integrate pro-crypto perspectives into U.S. economic policy and drive the digital assets industry forward.

Hines, who previously lost his 2022 race for North Carolina's 13th District and failed to secure the Republican nomination for the 6th District in 2024, has been backed by pro-crypto PACs during his campaigns.

Notably, he received support from Ryan Salame, a former FTX executive, who made substantial contributions to several Republican candidates, including Hines, Yahoo Finance reported.

Flurry of Appointments

Former President Donald Trump announced two other appointments alongside Hines: Stephen Miran, who will lead the Council of Economic Advisors, and Sriram Krishnan as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Krishnan, a former Microsoft employee who helped to develop Windows Azure, will also work closely with Sacks to ensure continued American leadership in AI, Trump noted. “Together, they will create an environment where this industry can flourish, and remain a cornerstone of our nation’s technological advancement,” Trump said.

The latest appointments follow Trump’s selection of Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Atkins, a known crypto supporter, also serves as an advisor to the Reserve Protocol.

Trump has slated Atkins to replace Gary Gensler, who submitted his resignation on Nov 20. However, it has been reported that Atkins may be reluctant to accept the position.