Crypto's Most Influential Regulator Joins US Spy Agencies
The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence, moving one of crypto's most influential regulators to the spy world. Clayton, a former Wall Street regulator and SEC chairman, spent three years deciding what counts as a security and what doesn't.
Clayton was nominated by Trump on June 11, 2026, after Tulsi Gabbard's resignation left the DNI post without permanent leadership. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held its confirmation hearing on July 15, and the full chamber confirmed him shortly after.
During his tenure as SEC chairman from May 2017 through December 2020, Clayton publicly declared that Bitcoin is not a security. He also advocated for accommodating legitimate stablecoins within the financial system, recognizing their utility for payments and settlement.