Broadband Breakfast on May 7, 2025 – How is Crypto Faring?

Cryptocurrency emerged as an unexpectedly important issue in the 2024 election. President Trump, who branded himself the pro-crypto candidate during his campaign, quickly delivered on promises to reverse what he called the Biden administration's "war" on crypto. Meanwhile, industry leaders who supported Trump's campaign are now actively engaging with Washington policymakers. Are clearer regulatory frameworks in scope? And amid broader market turmoil caused by tariffs, how are cryptocurrencies faring? Join us as we unpack the challenges and opportunities in a special Q&A with former Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman Chris Giancarlo!

‘Crypto Dad’ Expressed Dismay With Increasing Politicization of Digital Currency

The collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange transformed cryptocurrency from a bipartisan issue to a political battleground: Giancarlo.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

Panelists

• J. Christopher Giancarlo, Senior Counsel, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and 13th Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Panelist resources:

• CryptoDad, by J. Christopher Giancarlo (book)

• The Crypto World Winces at Trump's Embrace, Politico, May 6, 2025

Bipartisan Consensus On Digital-Asset Legislation Breaks Down Over Trump Family Crypto Dealings | PYMNTS.com

A joint committee hearing in the House of Representatives to consider a bipartisan measure to create a clear regulatory framework for digital assets

PYMNTS.comCPI

New Trump Administration Will Be Crypto Friendly, Former CFTC Head Says

‘I think a Trump administration is going to… embrace this innovation,’ former department head predicts

Broadband BreakfastJoel Leighton

Tech Influence Felt at GOP Convention in Milwaukee

With JD Vance potentially beside Trump in the White House, and with pro crypto and pro AI policies in the GOP platform, it’s not a stretch to imagine a Trump administration looking kindly toward emerging technologies.

Broadband BreakfastJoel Leighton

J. Christopher “Chris” Giancarlo is senior counsel and Co-Chair of the Willkie Digital Works practice. He is based in the firm’s New York office. Chris served as the thirteenth Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he oversaw regulation of the futures, options and swaps derivatives markets. Chris is a renowned blockchain technology advocate and key contributor to the global discourse on cryptocurrencies and digital assets. During his tenure at the CFTC (2014-2019), Chris oversaw the first bitcoin futures products entering the marketplace and applied a “Do No Harm” regulatory approach towards blockchain technology. Chris has testified often about financial and derivatives markets before the U.S. Congress and EU Parliament and is a frequent guest on broadcast radio and television, including BloombergTV, CNBC, Fox Business and the BBC, as well as podcasts such as “Unchained” and “CoinDesk.” Chris has written and spoken extensively on public policy, legal and other matters involving technology and the financial markets and has authored numerous white papers, articles and op-eds that have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Cato Journal, New York Law Journal, Les Echos and Coinbase.

Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.