Has the Political Right Co-Opted Crypto?

Richard Painter (Former White House Ethics Lawyer) & Zoltan Istvan (Democratic Candidate for California Governor) In this in-depth BeInCrypto Podcast episode, host Camila Grigirana examines how cryptocurrency, US politics, and regulation have become deeply intertwined in 2025. She is joined by Richard Painter, former Chief White House Ethics Lawyer under President George W. Bush, and Zoltan Istvan, Democratic candidate for Governor of California, futurist, and emerging-technology advocate. The discussion explores the political influence of the crypto industry, growing concerns around conflicts of interest, and whether recent US legislation such as the GENIUS Act and the proposed Clarity Act can effectively regulate crypto markets without stifling innovation. As Bitcoin adoption expands at the state level and crypto lobbying reaches historic highs, this episode breaks down the ethical, legal, and technological consequences shaping the future of crypto regulation in the United States. Topics covered in this episode: Crypto lobbying and political donations in US elections Conflicts of interest between US politicians and crypto ventures Trump, crypto, and presidential ethics The FTX collapse and its political fallout GENIUS Act explained and stablecoin regulation Clarity Act and DeFi oversight Crypto regulation vs innovation AI, automation, and job displacement Universal basic income and emerging technology What voters should watch ahead of the 2026 US midterms ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and overview of crypto in US politics 01:42 Crypto lobbying, market influence, and historical parallels 04:16 Zoltan Istvan on crypto as economic opportunity 06:07 Super PACs, Fairshake, and bipartisan crypto funding 09:07 Is crypto becoming a right-wing political tool 12:40 Conflicts of interest and presidential crypto involvement 16:03 FTX, pardons, and enforcement credibility 19:26 Why US presidents and Congress are exempt from conflict-of-interest laws 22:23 Quantum computing risks to crypto markets 25:41 GENIUS Act and Clarity Act explained 28:50 Congressional oversight and regulatory weaknesses 29:16 Crypto, AI, and the future of work 33:58 What voters should demand from politicians on crypto and AI 37:26 Final thoughts and closing remarks crypto regulation US crypto and politics Bitcoin regulation United States GENIUS Act crypto Clarity Act DeFi crypto lobbying US crypto laws 2025 Trump crypto conflict of interest FTX collapse explained crypto ethics AI and crypto future blockchain regulation #CryptoRegulation #USPolitics #BeInCrypto ------------------------------------------------------------ BeInCrypto, Your Gateway to Blockchain & Beyond 🚀 BeInCrypto is among the Top 3 global crypto media platforms, delivering daily crypto news, updates, reviews, podcasts, shorts, memes, and analysis. With a team of 150+ people across 60+ countries, we publish in 25+ languages to make blockchain, Bitcoin, altcoins, and Web3 accessible to everyone worldwide. Our mission is to empower your Web3 journey, whether you’re a beginner exploring crypto or an expert seeking reliable insights. We share transparent, trustworthy, and accurate information to help you navigate the future of blockchain, digital assets, NFTs, and DeFi. 🌍 Why Follow BeInCrypto? 🔝 Trusted by 11M+ monthly readers 🌐 25+ languages, 4M+ new users every month 📊 News, Rankings, Learn, Bonus Hunter, Learn-to-Earn, Newsletters & Web3 Jobs 💡 A global team passionate about blockchain education & innovation We are more than a news platform – we build tools and products to help you explore opportunities in Web3 with confidence. 👉 Stay tuned for crypto podcasts, trending shorts, reviews, memes, Bitcoin & Ethereum price updates, altcoin analysis, and Web3 industry insights right here on our channel! 🔗 Explore BeInCrypto 🌐 Website: https://beincrypto.com/ 📰 News: https://beincrypto.com/type/news/ 📊 Rankings: https://beincrypto.com/price/ 📚 Learn: https://beincrypto.com/type/learn/ ------------------------------------------------------------ 📲 Follow Us on Socials 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/beincrypto 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beincrypto 📢 Telegram: https://t.me/+U8DQNp4b8Gw3YmZi 🎥 TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@beincrypto 💼 LinkedIn: din.com/company/beincrypto @Beincrypto ✅ Subscribe to BeInCrypto and join millions worldwide learning, exploring, and building in Web3. 🚨 Disclaimer 🚨 Although BeInCrypto aims to inform and educate readers worldwide, it is important to remember that investing in cryptocurrency is risky. Neither this video nor its authors should be held responsible for any investment decisions, and nothing published here should be considered financial advice. We always urge our readers/viewers to do their own research and never invest more than they can afford to lose.