Senator Cynthia Lummis Announces Retirement, Highlights Contributions to Cryptocurrency Legislation
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), known as the 'Bitcoin Senator' for her advocacy in the cryptocurrency space, has announced she will not seek reelection when her current term ends in January 2027. Citing the energy required for what she described as a six-year marathon, Lummis will retire from Congress after her term concludes.
During her tenure, Lummis has been instrumental in shaping federal cryptocurrency policy. She played a key role in the passage of the GENIUS Act, signed into law in July 2025, which established a federal framework for the issuance and trading of stablecoins. Beyond this, she has been leading negotiations on a comprehensive market structure bill aimed at legalizing most crypto activity in the United States. Drafted in 2022 together with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the bill has faced internal dissension and delays and has yet to be marked up by the Senate Banking Committee, leaving its passage uncertain ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In addition to regulatory efforts, Lummis introduced the Bitcoin Act earlier in 2025, proposing that the U.S. government purchase approximately $80 billion worth of Bitcoin over five years to create a federal strategic Bitcoin reserve.
Her work has earned praise from leaders within the crypto industry. Ji Kim of the Crypto Council for Innovation called her a leading champion for cryptocurrency legislation, noting that the ecosystem is stronger due to her leadership.
