Legislative Push to Ban Politicians from Crypto and Stock Trading
In a move to bolster integrity and transparency, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna has proposed legislation that would prohibit members of Congress, along with President Donald Trump and his family, from engaging in cryptocurrency or stock trading while in office. Khanna voiced these concerns during a recent appearance on MSNBC, emphasizing fears of conflicts of interest tied to crypto projects associated with political figures.
Supporting President Trump’s son’s cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), while making millions off it during his presidency, raises serious questions of corruption. A pardon granted to Binance’s CZ, linked to allegations of money laundering, further fuels these concerns about the influence of crypto on government integrity.
Khanna accused Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao of benefiting from political connections, highlighting recent legal issues where Zhao pled guilty to violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act but seemingly avoided maximum penalties, allegedly due to Binance’s financial backing of WLFI. The representative also drew parallels to recent bipartisan debates around restricting stock trading by government officials, which remains a contentious issue in Congress.
Khanna did not specify details of the legislation but emphasized a comprehensive ban on elected officials holding cryptocurrency and accepting foreign money. As of now, the bill has yet to be officially introduced, but its intent highlights growing concern about the influence of crypto investments on public trust.
Meanwhile, Republican and Democratic lawmakers continue to debate the ethics surrounding politicians’ investments in stocks, with a bill expected to be voted on soon. Interestingly, Khanna’s personal investment history suggests he also has significant stakes, with over $80 million in stock trades in 2025 alone. Since entering Congress in 2017, he has executed more than 35,000 trades across sectors such as financials, technology, and healthcare, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest in policy-making.
Ro Khanna’s stock trading activity. Source: Quiver Quant
Despite the push for banning officials from trading crypto, questions remain about the broader transparency of politicians’ financial activities. The debate continues as Congress weighs measures aimed at reducing corruption and increasing accountability in the evolving landscape of blockchain, DeFi, and digital assets.