Ask a Pol crypto

By: Matt Laslo
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  • Summary

  • Asking your lawmakers your crypto questions at your US Capitol.

    www.askapolcrypto.com
    Matt Laslo
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Economics Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • Majority Leader Scalise on Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: "I want to get more details on this, obviously”

    Majority Leader Scalise on Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: "I want to get more details on this, obviously”
    Mar 9 2025

    Who?

    Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) — US House Majority Leader

    LISTEN: Laslo & Scalise

    Ask a Pol asks:

    What are your thoughts on this new Strategic Crypto Reserve?

    Key Scalise

    “I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

    ICYMI — Hagerty’s new stablecoin bill

    Caught our ear:

    “Let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry,” Scalise tells us.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Majority Leader Steve Scalise

    SCENE: After passing by a handful of congressional reporters staking out Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo enters the Old House Chamber where he finds Majority Leader Scalise talking to a group of his constituents.

    Laslo waits until Scalise finishes shaking hands and posing for photos and then proceeds to get this exclusive.

    Matt Laslo: “Hey, I’ve never asked you…”

    Scalise’s security detail is eyeing Laslo hard.

    Steve Scalise: “Walk with me?”

    ML: “Yeah.”

    Scalise, his security detail and Laslo start traversing a crowd of tourists.

    ML: “What are your thoughts on the Strategic Crypto Reserve?”

    SS: “Yeah, I’m just getting details of it.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    SS: “Obviously, I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry, and, you know, the Biden Administration had some very anti-crypto policies to try to make it harder. I mean this is a new form of…”

    Scalise clears his throat as his entourage encounters a large group of Capitol visitors as he makes his way to Speaker Johnson’s office.

    What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

    SS: “…of asset allocation...”

    ML: “Ah-huh?”

    SS: “…that we ought to be open to, and we in Congress have moved a number of bills now to open up the crypto industry and kinda bring it into the mainstream. I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    SS: “But President Trump’s been a very strong supportive of the crypto industry as well. So, let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry.”

    Scalise and his security detail jet into the Speaker’s office.

    ML: “Preciate ya!”

    Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • Senate Ag. Chair Boozman says the White House can't go it alone on crypto regs

    Senate Ag. Chair Boozman says the White House can't go it alone on crypto regs
    Feb 27 2025
    Who?Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) — Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee LISTEN: Laslo & BoozmanAsk a Pol asks:Been curious since your crypto press conference, what do you see as the path forward — can the White House go digital currency regulations alone? Key Boozman:“It’s going to take both working together,” Sen. John Boozman exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now’s the wild west.”ICYMI — Feb. Crypto Presser: Sens. Boozman & Tim Scott w/ David Sacks and Reps. French Hill & Glen ThompsonSource: C-SPAN (but their embed code wasn’t working…) Security or commodity? With the new SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission — actions, it seems like it’s going more to the securities or is there still a commodities argument? “Some of it is and some of it isn’t,” Boozman says. “That’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC [Commodity Futures Trading Commission]. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”Ask a Pol’s FREEE! Sign up to get our latest before your competitors do… ICYMI — Hagerty: state role key to stablecoin bill successCaught our ear:“We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group,” Boozman tells us. Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Boozman SCENE: Sen. Boozman and an older aide — possibly his chief of staff — is heading to an early morning meeting of Republican committee chairs via the underground tunnel connecting Senate Office Buildings to the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo grabs him for this quick exclusive crypto chat. Matt Laslo: “Morning sir.” John Boozman: “Hey.” ML: “I was curious, I haven’t talked to you since your press conference last week on crypto. What do you see as the path forward?” JB: “Well, I think that was a good start…” Senate tram bell dings. JB: “…you know, getting us all together and making a commitment that we do get started. We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group. But Sen. Scott’s moving forward on their [Banking] Committee. And our committee, we restructured so crypto would have a greater influence on one of our subcommittees, and I’ve got people on that subcommittee that are involved — are interested in crypto, so I think the biggest thing that we got to do is just get enough people in government confirmed…” Another senator rings the bell to call one of the older underground trams, which are still run by humans. JB: “…that there’s leadership in place that we can work with so we can go forward and eventually.” Enjoy our independent crypto journalism? Consider supporting us!We’re on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “When the dust settles…”Boozman whispers to his aide. ML: “…is it still going to be viewed as a commodity or it seems like it’s going more to the securities?” JB: “Some of it — some of it is and some of it isn’t. And that’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”ML: “Yeah?” JB: “So…” ML: “And is that why it’s good that you guys are now working kinda in tandem with Senate Banking and the House?” JB: “Well, and our Democrat colleagues are also interested, and so I think it’s lining up that — people realize on both sides of the aisle, the industry realizes — that the [seamers?] need protection, the industry needs to be regulated, in the sense that will allow it to continue to grow and we won’t loose it overseas.”ML: “And how much action is needed from Congress — or how much can the administration do without you all? Or is that what you’re figuring out?”JB: “Yes. It’s going to take — it’s going to take both working together. There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now it’s the wild west.” Boozman and his aide look like they have a meeting to attend, so Laslo ushers them to the escalator leading into the Capitol.ML: “I know you got a day job. ‘Preciate ya!” Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report. Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know! Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Hagerty says state component of stablecoin bill key: "It’s really helped us broaden the support for it”

    EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Hagerty says state component of stablecoin bill key: "It’s really helped us broaden the support for it”
    Feb 14 2025
    Who?Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) — Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee What? Hagerty’s new bipartisan stablecoin measure: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act LISTEN: Laslo & HagertyAsk a Pol asks:Congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress. When it comes to that new measure, how do you see a path forward on this? Key Hagerty:“I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with [House Financial Services Committee Chair] French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already” Sen. Hagerty exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, [Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar] David Sacks has been very positive on it, so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”Subscribe for FREE to get our latest first! Is your measure’s new state component key? “I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it,” Hagerty says. “Absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.” ICYMI — America’s first Crypto Congress in full gearCaught our ear:“David Sacks and I are friends from before,” Hagerty tells us. “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT I: Sen. Hagerty (2-12-2025)SCENE: Sen. Bill Hagerty’s showing a visitor around the Capitol in the middle of a hectic Senate vote, so Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo gives them space but also slides in for a quick chat. Matt Laslo: “I wanted to say congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress.”Hagerty laughs. Bill Hagerty: “Oh yeah, I feel very good about getting it done.” ML: “What do you — do you think splitting the difference, or solving the problem between states and feds is key?”BH: “Yes. Yeah, absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.” ML: “And do you think that’s gonna garner the support you need?”BH: “Yeah, I do.”ML: “I’ll be watching. Thank you!” Please, support our independent crypto journalism. Find us Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!TRANSCRIPT II: Sen. Hagerty (2-13-2025)SCENE: The following day, Laslo sees Sen. Hagerty and an aide heading to a Senate vote when he circles back on their previous mini-interview. Matt Laslo: “Today you don’t have a guest.”Laslo laughs. Bill Hagerty: “How are you doing?”ML: “I felt bad interrupting you with your guest yesterday. But when it comes to your stablecoin measure, how do you see a path forward on this?” BH: “I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already. So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, David Sacks has been very positive on it so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”ML: “And how essential is it, like…” Laslo slides into the elevator. ML: “I’ll go up with you, if you don’t mind…” ML: “…how essential is it that Congress, because we’ve seen the administration doing a lot and changes at the SEC…?” BH: “The administration — the administration wants to work with us, and I think that’s a critical piece of it. David Sacks and I are friends from before.” ML: “Yeah? Nice.”BH: “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.”ML: “We’re getting that bill passed is still essential?”BH: “Uh-huh. I think it’s gonna be — what it’s going to do is provide much needed certainty in the market, and I think it sends an important signal to those as well: We’re going to be dealing responsibly with, you know, in the crypto arena.” ML: “Is that state component the key? Do you think that’s why?”BH: “I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it.”ML: “Preciate ya.”Hagerty enters the Senate chamber to vote. Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this article.What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins

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