The bitcoin community has united in support of U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis following her announcement on Friday that she will not seek reelection in 2026. Lummis has been a significant figure in shaping the discourse around bitcoin regulation in Washington, and her departure is being met with an outpouring of praise from industry leaders.
Collin McCune, head of government affairs at A16z, acknowledged Lummis’s contributions, stating that bitcoin “would not be where it is today without her fight in Congress.” This sentiment was echoed by Multicoin’s general partner Greg Xethalis, who noted that Lummis’s unique background as a cattle rancher has been instrumental in driving effective policy for the sector.
Lummis has been a vocal critic of the regulatory approach employed by former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, which she described as regulation by enforcement. She has championed legislative efforts such as the Responsible Financial Innovation Act and the U.S. Clarity Act—initiatives designed to establish clearer guidelines for digital assets.
David Sacks, the White House AI and bitcoin czar, expressed his disappointment over Lummis’s decision to step down, referring to her as “a great ally on crypto.” He added, “I was very sorry to see her go,” underlining her influence in pushing forward cryptocurrency conversations within the government.
In her announcement, which garnered nearly 1 million views on social media platform X, Lummis shared her perspective on her decision, stating that she did not feel prepared for “six more years” in public office. “I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match up,” she explained.
Despite her exit, many industry voices, including Multicoin managing partner Kyle Samani, insisted that the work to develop beneficial policy will continue. Samani emphasized on X that the “job is not done” and voiced a commitment to the legislative efforts leading to 2026. His remarks came on the heels of Sacks’s earlier statement, highlighting that Congress could potentially initiate discussions around the U.S. Clarity Act as soon as January.
As the bitcoin sector reflects on Lummis’s tenure, her influence in advocating for clear regulatory frameworks will likely be remembered as a pivotal part of shaping the dialogue surrounding digital assets in the United States.
