No Crypto Executive Order from Trump; but, hey, at least, we got two new meme coins

Yesterday marked President Trump’s first day in office, a day that swiftly turned into a whirlwind of executive actions. He wasted no time, issuing dozens of new executive orders and repealing nearly eighty of President Biden’s.

Yet amid this flurry of governmental activity, crypto remained conspicuously absent from the White House’s agenda. Instead, Trump’s only foray into the digital asset space was the release of two meme coins—$TRUMP and $MELANIA—a gesture that to me felt like a trivialization of a field brimming with transformative possibilities. At least the SEC signaled its intent to take a more structured approach by forming a new task force devoted to digital assets.

For the developers, entrepreneurs, and investors who have worked hard to legitimize crypto, the SEC’s decision is a welcome development, suggesting the dawn of more concrete regulatory outlines. Such clarity could help promising blockchain ventures grow without the ever-present anxiety of running afoul of vague or antiquated rules. If handled properly, this initiative could bolster public trust, protect consumers, and encourage genuine innovation to flourish. Yet it is difficult to celebrate this evolving regulatory attention without acknowledging a measure of disappointment in the President’s silence.

I had hoped for an executive order that might outline a coherent national policy or offer deeper support for the legitimate aspects of cryptocurrency. Instead, the launch of two meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, feels misguided and dilutes the credibility that developers, investors, and advocates have worked to build.

This leaves the deeper questions of crypto’s future unanswered and risks casting an unserious light on an industry long striving to distance itself from quick-buck schemes and internet jokes.

Blockchain technology promises faster global transactions, more equitable financial access, and a new frontier of digital ownership.

For those dedicated to these lofty goals, watching an administration reduce the conversation to novelty coins—especially on Day One—fuels uncertainty and undercuts the urgency of establishing a clear framework.