Sen. Gillibrand: Lawmakers Issuing Crypto Is ‘Against the Constitution’

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins the CoinDesk Podcast Network to discuss the current state of crypto legislation in the U.S., emphasizing her optimism that key bills like the Genius Act and broader market structure legislation will be finalized before the midterms. She highlights the importance of ethical guardrails, particularly a provision banning members of Congress and senior government officials from issuing or promoting cryptocurrencies due to conflicts of interest and constitutional concerns. Gillibrand argues that such a ban is essential to prevent corruption, protect public trust, and ensure fair regulation. She also discusses the need for clarity in regulating developers, citing cases like Samurai Wallet and Tornado Cash, while advocating for a balanced approach that protects innovation while enabling tools to combat illicit finance. Beyond crypto, she calls for proactive legislation on AI and prediction markets, urging a retooling of education and workforce systems to prepare for rapid technological change, and stresses the need for equitable data ownership and compensation in the age of AI.