Pro-crypto Lana Negrete appointed mayor of Santa Monica, California

Lana Negrete, popularly known for her pro stance on crypto, has been officially appointed as the mayor of Santa Monica, California. The Bitcoin enthusiast will now be part of the Trump administration that endorsed the crypto industry during the presidential election campaigns earlier this year.

Following her recent appointment, pro-crypto Lana Negrete will serve the U.S. government as the mayor of Santa Monica. Her appointment means California will have its first-ever pro-Bitcoin Mayor. 

Negrete is popular in the crypto arena for her support and belief in the crypto industry and its underlying technology. She has previously led initiatives to boost Bitcoin adoption. 

Lana Negrete is known for setting up the first government Bitcoin office

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Santa Monica Bitcoin Office Sponsor @lananegrete22 was just appointed the Mayor of Santa Monica!!

Translation: California will have its first ever BITCOIN MAYOR! ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/drfZuBJwVz

— Proof of Workforce (@workforcebtc) December 11, 2024

One notable achievement she has delivered to the crypto industry is making the City of Santa Monica home to the first government Bitcoin office. In July, Negrete, who was the vice mayor at the time, led the campaign that established the office. 

During the Santa Monica City Council meeting held on July 9, the council unanimously approved 7-0 to establish a Santa Monica Bitcoin Office program at zero cost to the city.

Lana Negrete highlighted that establishing the office was not about the asset itself or the commodity but about promoting Bitcoin education in the city and exploring industry partnerships, unemployment creation, and economic recovery. 

The office was set up by the now-appointed mayor in collaboration with Proof of Workforce, which manages the office from a non-profit perspective. Lana has joined a pro-crypto administration headed by President-elect Donald Trump. 

Trump appoints pro-crypto candidates in his administration

Trump has already made several appointments involving pro-crypto candidates in major regulatory offices to form part of his administration. The appointments come as preparation made by the president-elect to deliver on the promises he made for the crypto community. 

Perhaps the most notable nomination was the one involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson. The president-elect announced on Truth Social that he had appointed Paul Atkins to be the next chair after Gary Gensler, who has officially resigned. 

Trump’s running mate and soon-to-be Vice President, JD Vance, is also renowned for being a crypto enthusiast. The 40-year-old has Bitcoin holdings worth between $250,000 and $500,000, according to CBS News. 

Trump also recently appointed former PayPal Chief Operating Officer David Sacks to serve as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” The appointment marked another significant step towards transforming U.S. policies in the technology space. The role will involve regulatory oversight of the crypto industry. 

Sacks reportedly owns digital assets such as Solana. His venture capital fund, Craft, has also exposed itself to the cryptocurrency space by investing in crypto companies Bitwise and BitGo. 

Trump also named Elon Musk the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a department he created to control government spending and reduce wastage of resources. 

Musk is a well-known cryptographic figure. He is known to endorse the popular memecoin Dogecoin and once accepted crypto payments from Tesla buyers. According to Bitcoin Treasuries, his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, own 9,720 Bitcoin and 8,285 Bitcoin, respectively. Musk will work hand in hand with Howard Lutnick, who is also a major player in the crypto ecosystem. His firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, has managed Tether’s U.S. Treasury and bond portfolios since 2021.

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