‘Bitcoin Senator’ Cynthia Lummis will not seek re-election

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), one of the crypto industry’s most trusted and powerful allies on Capitol Hill, announced Friday that she will not seek re-election when her term expires next year.

“The decision not to run for re-election represents a change of heart for me, but during the difficult, exhausting weeks of the legislative session this fall, I have come to accept that I do not have six years left in me,” Lummis said in a statement. “I’m a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match.”

Earlier this year, Lummis – who has been dubbed the “Bitcoin Senator” for her support and advocacy in the cryptocurrency space – was instrumental in the passage of the GENIUS Actthe very first major piece of crypto legislation signed into law. The bill, which established a federal framework for the issuance and trading of stablecoins, faced many dramatic consequences starts And stops before finally crossing the finish line at the end of July.

Lummis has also been at the center of ongoing negotiations over the coveted crypto industry market structure law, which has faced even greater hurdles. The history of that bill, which would formally legalize most crypto activities in the United States, dates back to 2022, when Lummis and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) first drafted a bill. version that was ultimately never adopted.

The sprawling market structure bill currently faces numerous obstacles, of which more remain disagreement between factions within the crypto industry about the content and necessity of the legislation. Senate Republicans first aimed to see the bill passed by the end of the summer, then by September and then by the end of this year — a goal that has now also been sidelined.

The legislation has not yet been approved by the Senate Banking Committee, and Congress is expected to come to a standstill in the spring ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Whether the bill succeeds in becoming law will likely become one of the final benchmarks of Lummis’ 18-year tenure in Congress.

In her time advocating for crypto-related issues, Lummis has also placed particular emphasis on the importance of Bitcoin. Earlier this year, the senator introduced the Bitcoin lawwhich would require the US government to purchase approximately $80 billion worth of Bitcoin over five years in the interest of strengthening federal strategic policy. Bitcoin reserve.

Lummis’ retirement announcement Friday immediately drew messages of support from crypto industry leaders.

“Senator Lummis is a leading digital asset champion in Washington,” said Ji Kim, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, in a statement shared with Declutter. “The digital asset ecosystem is stronger because of her service, and we are grateful for her leadership.”

Lummis would have been up for re-election next year. She will retire from Congress in January 2027.