President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth, a Fox News co-host and Army veteran, as his pick for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, known for his strong support of Bitcoin, served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at Guantanamo Bay, earning two Bronze Stars for his service.
He is also the author of the bestseller *The War on Warriors,* which criticizes what he calls “woke” military policies and argues for a return to traditional military values. Hegseth’s background as a soldier and television personality has made him a prominent conservative voice, especially in his support for the crypto industry.
Hegseth has spoken openly about the value of Bitcoin, describing it as powerful and independent of government control. “Crypto has arrived. Bitcoin is not a person, it’s not a company, it’s not a place. It’s tougher to stop than you would think,“ he said in a tweet.
Following Trump’s recent election win, Bitcoin’s price rose above $80,000, which Hegseth linked to Trump’s pro-crypto approach. in a recent interview with Fox Business, he commented, “Look at Trump, making Bitcoin great again… All it took was signaling to that market that they weren’t going to be overregulated”.
Hegseth also shared that while he sold some Bitcoin at a high, he continues to hold a large amount, confident in its future.
In a tweet on X, Trump praised Hegseth as a “Warrior for the Troops” and a “true believer in America First,” saying, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice—our military will be great again, and America will never back down”.
Some, however, disagree with the choice. Anti-crypto Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the nomination, saying, “A Fox & Friends Weekend co-host is not qualified to be Secretary of Defense.” Retired Major General Paul Eaton also expressed concern, calling Hegseth “wholly unqualified” for the role.
However, Crypto supporters are hopeful, seeing Hegseth’s nomination as a potential boost for a more open stance toward cryptocurrency in government, possibly leading to more blockchain technology use in federal policies. His background and views could influence the Pentagon’s approach to new technology and the role of crypto in the economy.
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