Trump taps crypto-friendly Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve

  • Kevin Warsh nominated as Fed Chair, pending Senate confirmation.
  • Known for hawkish policy yet supportive of cryptocurrencies.
  • Markets and crypto reacted quickly to the nomination news.

US President Donald Trump has officially nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve.

The announcement came through Trump’s social media platform, highlighting Warsh’s experience and expertise.

Trump announces he has picked Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair
Donald Trump announces his Fed Chair pick | Source Truth Social

Warsh, 55, is a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, having served from 2006 to 2011.

He was on the Fed during the 2008 financial crisis, giving him significant insight into economic turbulence.

Warsh also brings a strong academic and professional background, with a degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard.

Before joining the Fed, he worked as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and served in the George W. Bush administration.

Currently, he is a fellow at the Hoover Institution and a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Trump’s nomination is not yet final, as Warsh must receive confirmation from the US Senate.

The confirmation process is expected to be closely watched and potentially contentious.

A hawkish yet crypto-friendly choice

Warsh is known for his hawkish stance on inflation and interest rates.

He has criticised the Fed’s past policies of ultra-loose monetary stimulus and large asset purchases.

However, Warsh is seen as more open to digital assets than current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

In a recent interview on Hoover Institution has suggested that Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies could act as a form of market discipline rather than a threat.

This perspective has drawn attention from the crypto community, which is eager for more favourable regulatory approaches.

Analysts note that Warsh’s approach could influence both traditional markets and the cryptocurrency sector.

Investors are already adjusting expectations for the dollar, equities, and digital assets.

Bitcoin, in particular, has experienced volatility as traders react to Warsh’s nomination.

Warsh’s potential policies could emphasise balance-sheet reduction and controlled rate hikes.

This combination of hawkish monetary policy and crypto openness is relatively unique for a Fed Chair.

Market reaction

Markets reacted quickly to the nomination, with some risk assets experiencing a short-term pullback.

Traders are pricing in the possibility of tighter monetary conditions under Warsh’s leadership.

Prediction markets had already favoured Warsh before the official announcement.

His nomination underscores the importance of Fed leadership for global markets, inflation, and economic stability.

The Senate confirmation process will likely draw debate over Fed independence and Trump’s influence on monetary policy.

Warsh’s blend of Wall Street experience, central bank knowledge, and crypto-friendly views makes him a notable pick.

If confirmed, he would face the challenge of balancing inflation control with market expectations for digital assets.

His tenure could set a new precedent for how the Fed interacts with cryptocurrencies.

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Bitcoin crashes to $84K, triggering $800M in crypto liquidations

  • Bitcoin fell below $85,000 and touched a low of $84,250.
  • CoinGlass data shows total liquidations hit $804 million over the past 24 hours.
  • The crash happened as gold fell from its peak above $5,500 on Thursday.

Cryptocurrency markets saw a sharp risk-off move on Thursday, with Bitcoin sliding to a low of $84,250.

The sell-off swept through major tokens, sending shockwaves across the crypto derivatives market.

Long positions bore the brunt of the move, as the drop pushed total liquidations over the past 24 hours above $800 million.

The downturn coincided with an abrupt reversal in gold prices, with the metal retreating from recent highs above $5,500.

Analysts cited mounting macroeconomic and geopolitical tensions as key drivers of the sudden shift in sentiment.

Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin price chart by CoinMarketCap

Bitcoin tanks as gold sheds gains

Bitcoin has struggled to reclaim the $90,000 support level, with a brief move toward that mark fading as gold surged.

During Asian and early European trading on January 29, the cryptocurrency began a steady decline, slipping below $88,000.

Selling accelerated as the US session opened, with Bitcoin sliding on above-average trading volumes.

The sell-off pushed the benchmark asset to an intraday low near $84,000, its weakest level since December 2025.

The same area had seen a bearish retest in November, a move that may have prompted at least one large holder to sell roughly 200 BTC.

Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin was down about 5%.

The broader market sell-off dragged Ethereum to around $2,800, XRP to $1.79, and Solana below $120.

Crypto investor Ted wrote on X that the latest drop has left Bitcoin trading near a critical technical level.

The Bitcoin sell-off unfolded amid a broader shift to risk aversion across global markets.

Equities moved lower, led by a sharp decline in Microsoft shares, while investors also reacted to a sudden reversal in precious metals.

Gold, which had climbed to a record high above $5,500 an ounce earlier on Thursday, reversed course and fell toward $5,300. Silver also retreated sharply from recent highs.

Analysts said the move reflects a mix of macroeconomic pressures and heightened geopolitical risks, including rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates on Wednesday, alongside guidance suggesting rate cuts may be delayed until late 2026, further weighed on risk assets, prompting investors to favour short-term cash positions over digital assets or traditional safe havens.

Over $800 million was wiped out amid a surge in derivatives liquidations

Bitcoin’s sharp decline was mirrored in the derivatives market, where leveraged positions were unwound aggressively.

Data from crypto analytics platform Coinglass show that more than $800 million in positions across spot and futures markets were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with the bulk of losses borne by long traders.

Bitcoin alone accounted for $332 million in liquidations during the period, of which more than $318 million were long positions, according to the data.

While the scale of the sell-off and liquidations was smaller than the market dislocation seen on October 10, 2025, analysts say the episode underscores ongoing fragility in market positioning.

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