Amid continued speculation over his final choice, US President Donald Trump spoke positively about pro-cryptocurrency Federal Reserve Chairman candidate Chris Waller at a recent press conference.
“I think he's great. I mean, he's a guy who's been there a long time. He's somebody that I've been very involved with and felt his career through. He's a great guy,” Trump said at a news conference Thursday.
Waller has recently been perceived as a relative supporter of cryptocurrencies, saying in an August speech at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium 2025 that he has “nothing to fear” about crypto payments taking place outside of the traditional banking system.
President Trump says all finalists would be good choices
According to cryptocurrency prediction platform Polymarket, Waller currently has a 14% chance of being selected, making him the third most likely pick. Crypto-friendly White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett leads with 53%, followed by former Federal Reserve Director Kevin Warsh with odds of 28%.
US President Donald Trump is expected to make an announcement on the Fed chair in the coming weeks. sauce: YouTube
President Trump said the list of candidates has been narrowed to three or four. “Honestly, I think they're all good choices,” he said.
When asked if Federal Reserve Board member Michelle Bowman was also on his shortlist, President Trump did not directly answer, but described her as a “fantastic person.” Polymarket currently has odds on Bowman at 2%.
President Trump said he expected to make an announcement in the “coming weeks.” “We won't know until the end of the year, but pretty soon,” President Trump said.
The crypto industry is watching the Fed chair closely
The crypto industry has been paying close attention to developments surrounding President Trump's nomination to chair the Federal Reserve, and the debate has intensified in recent months as the Fed's role in monetary policy is often seen as influencing broader crypto market conditions.
Interest rates set by the Federal Reserve are widely seen as having a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market.
As interest rates fall, traditional investments such as bonds and term deposits become less attractive, and investors tend to seek higher-risk assets such as cryptocurrencies.
