Supreme Court Hands Trump Sweeping Control Over Crypto Regulators

The US Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to federal regulators, ruling that presidents can fire commissioners of independent agencies without cause. The decision overturns nearly 90 years of precedent, dating back to the 1935 Humphrey's Executor case. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the conservative majority, while the court's three liberal justices dissented.

The impact is far-reaching, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), key regulators in the crypto space, now under direct presidential control. The leadership of these agencies can change rapidly based on who occupies the White House.

The ruling was sparked by President Trump's firing of Democratic Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter in 2025 without cause. The case was bankrolled in part by Paradigm, a major crypto venture firm. Its policy chief is married to Slaughter, adding an interesting dimension to the dispute.