Kevin Warsh Takes Oath as Fed Chair After Disclosing Extensive Crypto Holdings

Kevin Warsh was sworn in May 22, 2026 as the Federal Reserve's 17th chair in a White House ceremony, with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administering the oath. The inauguration follows a nomination process that began in January and ended with a party-line Senate confirmation on May 13. Warsh's appointment stands out in the Fed's 113-year history for one reason: he disclosed investments tied to more than 30 crypto projects. His financial portfolio, valued at $131 million to more than $209 million, includes exposure to Solana and a direct position in a spot Bitcoin ETF. It marks the first time a sitting Fed chair has acknowledged such direct participation in the crypto market. Warsh returns to the central bank after previously serving as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011, a period that included the peak of the global financial crisis. He will serve a four-year term as chair and, in total, 14 years as a governor. In confirmation testimony, Warsh argued that digital assets are already embedded across the U.S. financial services industry—a stance that would have been unlikely from a Fed chair nominee even five years ago. His disclosures show crypto exposure that goes beyond a simple Bitcoin hedge, with positions spread across more than 30 digital-asset initiatives. The Solana holdings and spot Bitcoin ETF stake are the most prominent. The shift comes after the Fed under Jerome Powell took a posture ranging from cautious to openly skeptical toward crypto. Powell repeatedly emphasized the need for careful regulation, while the central bank oversaw high-profile enforcement actions and banking restrictions that complicated access to traditional financial infrastructure for crypto firms.