White House Crypto Council Emptied as Last Staffer Departs

The White House Crypto Council, the body coordinating President Donald Trump's digital asset policy, has lost its final known staffer. The White House confirmed on Wednesday that the temporary posting of executive director Patrick Witt has concluded.

No one has been publicly named to handle crypto policy on a daily basis. Witt's exit comes one month after the Senate blocked the CLARITY Act, a bill that aimed to set federal rules for US crypto markets.

Why Did Patrick Witt Depart the White House?

The White House reportedly confirmed the news in an email sent to Eleanor Terrett, host of the Crypto America podcast.

“The White House appreciates his service to the Trump administration and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” she wrote, citing a White House official.

According to reports, a source told Terrett that Witt is a Department of Defense employee on temporary loan to the council. He put his Georgia National Guard service on hold earlier this year and is expected to resume it.

Who Remains to Oversee US Crypto Policy?

Witt was the council's sole remaining staff member. Deputy director Harry Jung left at the end of July. David Sacks stepped down as Trump's AI and crypto czar in March after reaching the 130-day limit for special government employees. No replacement was named.

Witt became executive director in August 2025, following Bo Hines, the council's first leader, who returned to the private sector.

On September 15, a key Senate vote on the CLARITY Act fell short of the needed 60 votes. Days before the vote, Trump held a private meeting on the bill's ethics rules.

Witt also served as the administration's main public voice on the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. That federal store of seized Bitcoin (BTC) was created by Trump via executive order in March 2025.

In a recent interview with crypto commentator Lark Davis, Witt said officials were exploring ways to add more Bitcoin to the reserve.

According to blockchain tracker Arkham, wallets linked to the US government moved about $1 billion in Bitcoin last week.

DLA Piper says Congress may not take up the bill again before January 2027. In the meantime, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are writing crypto rules on their own.

With the White House crypto council now empty, one question arises: Does the White House still treat the crypto industry as a priority?