Ahead of Senate confirmation hearing, Fed pick Kevin Warsh discloses investments in a slew of crypto firms

Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh, who has reported holdings in dozens of crypto holdings, is set to appear before the Senate Banking Committee for his confirmation hearing next week, according to multiple news reports.

Warsh will go in front of lawmakers on Tuesday, according to Punchbowl News and Politico. On Tuesday, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., told that he expects the two-step process — a confirmation hearing and then a subsequent Senate vote — to be wrapped up in the coming weeks.

"I believe that we are getting closer and closer to that being a reality in the next few weeks that allows us to move forward as a committee and vote Kevin Warsh to the floor of the Senate that will get him confirmed in the next several weeks," Scott said.

The timeline comes as current Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell approaches the end of his term in May. President Donald Trump openly criticized Powell over the past year for his handling of interest rates, and later, the Department of Justice brought a criminal investigation against Powell, alleging false statements around a renovation of the central bank's headquarters. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a member of the Senate Banking Committee whose vote is essential in passing Warsh's nomination, has said he would not vote to advance nominees until that probe is "resolved."

On Tuesday, Scott told Fox Business he believed Tillis "will be a yes on Kevin Warsh."

Warsh's crypto investments

As part of the nomination process, Warsh disclosed his holdings, which include investments in at least 20 crypto-linked entities, according to a U.S. Office of Government Ethics report. Those include decentralized derivatives trading exchange dYdX, decentralized exchange protocol Lighter, venture capital firm Polychain, NFT-focused company Dapper Labs, as well as Solana and Optimism.

Warsh also has investments in lesser-known crypto-related startups like Eulith, Lemon Cash, OnJuno, and Ridian, according to the ethics report.

Ahead of President Trump tapping Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, Warsh spoke about crypto, saying he viewed bitcoin as an "important asset that can help inform policymakers." Warsh was also an early investor in an algorithmic stablecoin project, Basis, and through advisory and investor roles with crypto index manager Bitwise.