President Donald Trump’s push to install Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve moved closer to completion Tuesday after the Senate confirmed him to the Fed’s Board of Governors, a step that clears the path for a final vote on the chairmanship later this week.
The Senate approved Warsh in a 51-45 vote that fell along party lines, with Sen. John Fetterman joining Republicans in support of the nominee. If confirmed as chair, Warsh would replace Jerome Powell, whose term leading the central bank ends Friday.
Warsh’s rise has drawn attention across financial markets and the Bitcoin industry because of his public support for bitcoin and his ties to crypto-related firms.
Warsh’s consideration of bitcoin
Unlike past Fed leaders who treated digital assets with skepticism, Warsh has described bitcoin as “an important asset” and “a very good policeman for policy,” arguing that its price can reflect confidence in the Federal Reserve’s handling of inflation and monetary policy.
“Bitcoin doesn’t trouble me,” Warsh said during a Hoover Institution event last year, where he framed the asset as a signal of monetary credibility rather than a threat to the U.S. dollar.
His confirmation follows financial disclosures showing Warsh held an equity stake in Flashnet, a Bitcoin payments startup focused on lightning-style transaction infrastructure for merchants and fintech companies. The disclosure marked one of the clearest links yet between a potential Federal Reserve chair and a company tied to Bitcoin adoption.
Warsh has also maintained ties to the crypto sector through advisory work and investments connected to digital asset firms, including crypto index manager Bitwise and stablecoin project Basis.
At the same time, Warsh remains known as an inflation hawk. During his earlier tenure as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011, he warned about inflation risks and criticized loose monetary policy following the financial crisis.
Recent comments calling for “regime change” at the Fed and signaling openness to lower interest rates have created debate among investors over how he would balance inflation concerns with pressure from the White House.
Markets now face a Fed transition during a period of renewed inflation pressure, rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around future rate policy.
Bitcoin traders and crypto investors are watching closely to see whether Warsh’s views on digital assets translate into a shift in tone from the nation’s most powerful financial institution.