Patrick Witt Confirms White House Exit, Eyes Private Sector

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Key highlights:Patrick Witt’s time with the White House Crypto Council has ended, concluding his role as executive director.He thanked President Donald Trump, David Sacks, and other officials for backing him during his government service on the social media platform X.Witt worked on the presidential transition, defence research, and cryptocurrency policy.He plans to keep supporting American innovation in the private sector, though he hasn’t said what he’ll do next.Patrick J. Witt’s assignment to the White House Crypto Council is over. Witt served as executive director, and journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that the White House confirmed his exit in an email, saying it was grateful for his work during the Trump administration and wished him the best in the future.Patrick Witt put out a statement reflecting on his experience, thanking colleagues and officials from many departments. He pointed to his efforts on cryptocurrency policy, especially the passage of the GENIUS Act and ongoing work toward the CLARITY Act. Witt says he’ll keep working in the private sector, but he hasn’t shared any details about his next move.Serving in this administration has been the privilege of a lifetime.From helping to stand up the most successful presidential transition in history alongside @howardlutnick and @EDSecMcMahon, to rebuilding our defense industrial base as PTDO Deputy Under Secretary for R&E and then Acting Director of OSC at @DeptofWar, to driving forward President Trump’s vision to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world” as Executive Director of the @WhiteHouse Crypto Council, I consider myself to have been the luckiest guy in the world over these past two years.First and foremost, I want to thank @POTUS for the opportunity to serve the American people again in your second term. Your clear-eyed vision to ensure the United States remains the undisputed global superpower at this time of unprecedented technological change and geopolitical strife is critical to our nation’s future prosperity.Second, I want to thank @DavidSacks for your visionary leadership and mentorship. I am so grateful to have been able to work with you and learn from you over the past year. Thank you also to @USWREMichael, James Mazol, @HarryYJung, Nick Elliot, Tyler Williams, @lukejpettit, Jonathan Hurowitz, Andrew Rittenhouse, Michael Friedman, @atitus7, @passalacqua_mj, @willscharf, @JamesCBraid, @MayMailman, Steve Levine, Patrick Butler, Zach Carstens, and countless others across the administration for being the best colleagues anyone could ask for. It was an honor to serve alongside you.Lastly, thank you to @SECPaulSAtkins and @ChairmanSelig, @SecScottBessent, @USComptroller Gould, @SenatorTimScott, @SenLummis, @SenatorHagerty, @berniemoreno, @JohnBoozman, @SenThomTillis, @RepFrenchHill, and @RepBryanSteil for your partnership in advancing crypto policy over the past year with the passage of the GENIUS Act and our work to advance the CLARITY Act. With regulators and elected officials like you, I rest easy knowing the future of digital asset innovation in America is bright.Regarding next steps, I’ll have to more to share soon. For now, I’ll say this: I am extremely bullish on America as we embark upon a new golden age of technological advancement across multiple frontiers. I’m grateful to have done my part to unleash American innovation while in government, and I look forward to advancing that same mission in the private sector! — Patrick Witt (@patrickjwitt) October 15, 2026Witt Reflects on His Government RolesPatrick Witt called his time in government a major professional opportunity, focusing on the responsibilities he handled over the last two years. He said he was involved in organizing the presidential transition with Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, calling it the most successful transition in history.Later, Patrick Witt took on defence-related roles. He was Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, then became acting director of the Office of Strategic Capital at the Department of War. After that, he led the White House Crypto Council, pushing President Trump’s goal of making the United States the crypto capital of the world.Witt thanked President Trump for letting him serve in the administration’s second term. He also spoke about the need to keep America in front as technology and global politics change.Officials and Colleagues Receive RecognitionPatrick Witt expressed his thanks to David Sacks for his leadership and advice over the past year. He gave credit to many colleagues across the administration, including Michael Kratsios, James Mazol, Harry Y. Jung, Nick Elliot, Tyler Williams, Luke Pettit, Jonathan Hurowitz, Andrew Rittenhouse, and Michael Friedman.He also mentioned leaders in financial regulation and cryptocurrency law, like SEC Chair Paul Atkins, CFTC Chair Michael Selig, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and US Comptroller Gould.Patrick Witt’s thanks included several lawmakers: Senator Tim Scott, Senator Cynthia Lummis, Senator Bill Hagerty, Senator Bernie Moreno, Senator John Boozman, Senator Thom Tillis, Representative French Hill, and Representative Bryan Steil.His acknowledgments showed how regulators and elected officials played a part in shaping the administration’s digital asset policy.GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act Feature in Crypto Policy EffortsWitt said the GENIUS Act was a key step in crypto policy during his time. He also pointed to ongoing work on the CLARITY Act, stressing how regulators and lawmakers have worked together.In his statement, Witt said he believes digital asset innovation in the U.S. has a strong future. He gave credit to his government partners for moving crypto policy forward.But nothing in the announcements explained how the Crypto Council will run now. There was no new leader named, and no changes to the council’s leadership were outlined, either in the White House comment or Patrick Witt’s statement.Witt Leaves His Next Move UndisclosedFor now, Patrick Witt says he’ll announce his next plans soon, but hasn’t named any firms, groups, or jobs yet.He sounded optimistic about the future of American technology, and said he appreciated the chance to help innovation from a government role. He made it clear he’ll keep supporting the same mission in the private sector.The only confirmed news for now is Witt’s exit from the White House Crypto Council. What he’ll do next is still a mystery, but the GENIUS Act and the work on the CLARITY Act remain key parts of the crypto policy he focused on up until his departure.