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U.S. President Donald Trump plans to interview Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller for the central bank’s chairmanship, the Wall Street Journal reported on December 17, 2025, citing people familiar with the matter, as the administration seeks a pro-crypto voice to lead monetary policy.
Waller, a Fed governor since 2020, has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends in May 2026. Known for supportive comments on stablecoins and blockchain innovation, Waller said in a November speech that “well-regulated stablecoins could foster payment system improvements.” His views align with Trump’s campaign promises to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world” and establish a national bitcoin reserve.
The interview process also includes Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor, and Arthur Laffer, the supply-side economist, according to the Journal. Trump has repeatedly clashed with current chair Powell primarily over the speed and scale of interest rate reductions, and indicated he wants a replacement more open to lower interest rates and digital assets.
Powell meanwhile continues to be the leading advocate for and has presided over rate cuts at the last three FOMC meetings, lowering the federal funds rate to its current 3.50%–3.75% target range. Though he has adopted a more dovish tone, Powell has stressed ongoing uncertainty about the trajectory of future policy moves. Trump, by contrast, has consistently pushed the Fed for sharper and quicker reductions, advocating a benchmark rate of 1% or below.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this week that Trump will likely announce his pick in January 2026.
Some experts view the arrival of a new Fed Chair as a positive catalyst for the crypto market, which recently fell to below $86,000. Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Chairman Tom Lee recently said that a new Fed Chair will shift the central bank to a more dovish tone that will potentially translate into a market reversal. Reinvest founder MeetKevin described the news on X as “MASSIVELY BULLISH.”
🚨 Trump to interview Chris Waller for Fed chair!!
MASSIVELY BULLISH
— Meet Kevin (@realMeetKevin) December 16, 2025
However, if the prediction markets are to go by, Kevin Walsh could be next in line for the FED Chair. Polymarket gave former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh a 45% chance of becoming the next Fed Chair on December 17, 2025, overtaking current favorite Arthur Hassett at 42%.
BIG SHAKE-UP IN THE RACE FOR TRUMP’S FED CHAIR PICK.
Per the latest WSJ report, Fed Governor Christopher Waller is set to interview with Trump. Once considered an underdog, Waller is now favored by Wall Street and would go head-to-head with the two Kevins: Warsh and Hassett.… pic.twitter.com/dpBDLsh7Ji
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) December 16, 2025
Warsh, who served on the Fed Board from 2006 to 2011, has gained traction amid concerns that Hassett’s perceived closeness to Trump could undermine central bank independence, despite Hassett’s assurances that presidential views on rates hold no sway. Warsh has criticized prolonged quantitative easing as favoring asset owners over workers, aligning with debates on persistent inflation near 2.7%.
Bitcoin traded at $86,422 on December 17, up 0.13%.
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