President-elect Donald Trump announced Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida as his pick for the next U.S. Attorney General, describing Gaetz as “deeply gifted and tenacious.”
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, calling Gaetz’s nomination “a great honor.” He praised Gaetz’s experience in Congress and his reputation for targeting what he calls the “weaponization” of the U.S. justice system.
According to Trump, Gaetz will be the one to “end weaponized government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ badly shattered faith in the Department of Justice.”
The nomination brings with it a pro-Bitcoin twist. Gaetz could usher in a wave of crypto-friendly policies at the Justice Department. His involvement in crypto goes back years, with Gaetz pushing for laws that embrace Bitcoin while railing against centralized government control of finances. His reaction? “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
Gaetz’s bold Bitcoin stance
Gaetz’s reputation as a Bitcoin supporter is well-earned. Earlier this year, he introduced a bill to let Americans pay their federal taxes in Bitcoin. Gaetz pushed this idea as a way to bring the tax system up to speed with the times.
Under the bill, taxpayers could settle their federal income tax using Bitcoin, while the government would immediately convert those payments into dollars to avoid any crypto volatility issues. Gaetz pitched the proposal as a win for taxpayers and an important step for crypto adoption.
In his words, it was all about “flexibility” and giving citizens “real options” in dealing with the IRS. Critics called the idea impractical, but to Gaetz, it was a step towards something far bigger.
He has also been a vocal opponent of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), slamming the idea as a threat to personal freedom and financial independence. Gaetz argues that CBDCs would give the government more power to track, monitor, and potentially control financial transactions—exactly what Bitcoin was designed to avoid.
Gaetz has supported many crypto-friendly bills in Congress, backing the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21). This legislation supposedly wants to streamline regulatory hurdles and open the doors for crypto and blockchain technology.
Scandals and international Bitcoin alliances
Gaetz’s career in Congress has been anything but ordinary, with allegations and controversies dogging him at almost every turn. His most infamous connection in the crypto industry is with Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector turned criminal.
Greenberg, once Gaetz’s close associate, was caught using taxpayer money to buy Bitcoin mining equipment. Later, he admitted to crimes involving paying minors for sex and became a cooperating witness in a federal investigation.
Although Gaetz was never accused of anything himself, his ties to Greenberg raised eyebrows and questions about his personal and crypto dealings. Gaetz insists he’s done nothing wrong, but the relationship casts a shadow that still follows him.
Meanwhile in 2023, he led a congressional delegation to El Salvador, where he met with President Nayib Bukele, the leader who famously made Bitcoin legal tender in his country. Gaetz came back praising Bukele’s decision, saying the U.S. could learn a thing or two from El Salvador’s bold experiment with financial independence.
According to Gaetz, Bukele’s approach to Bitcoin is “the kind of forward-thinking the U.S. needs.” In Washington, Gaetz has never been far from controversy. He has faced multiple investigations, including a federal probe into alleged sexual misconduct. These issues haven’t stopped him though.
Gaetz remains one of the loudest voices in Congress when it comes to challenging government norms, and his nomination as Attorney General suggests he’s not about to tone it down. For Trump, Gaetz’s unapologetic style and history of taking on the establishment made him an ideal candidate to run the DOJ.
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