Trump to Interview Fed Governor Waller as Chair Race Intensifies

President Donald Trump is set to interview Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller for the role of Fed Chair. The meeting has drawn strong attention from Wall Street and the cryptocurrency community. Trump is reviewing candidates to replace Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.

Waller, appointed by Trump in 2020, is considered an underdog. Still, he has a clear record of supporting interest rate cuts and showing openness toward digital assets. His views have made this interview especially important for several sectors.

Waller’s Background and Policy Record

Christopher Waller, 66, joined the Fed’s Board of Governors after serving as executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He has become a key voice in monetary policy.

In July 2025, he dissented in favour of an immediate rate cut, citing concerns about a weakening labour market. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal in October ranked him as their top choice for the position of Fed Chair.

They praised his “intellectually consistent arguments” for easing rates. Many of his ideas have been adopted by Jerome Powell, even as internal debates continued within the Fed.

However, sources close to Trump say Waller’s chances may be limited. They point to his lack of a personal relationship with the president.

They also note his vote for a half‑point rate cut in September 2024, which some viewed as premature. These factors could work against him during the selection process.

Crypto Sector Reaction and Industry Support

The crypto sector has shown strong interest in Waller’s interview. He is seen as supportive of innovation in digital assets. Throughout 2025, he advocated for stablecoins. He called them “a new form of private money” that can exist alongside traditional payment systems.

He also supported tokenization and distributed ledger technology to improve transaction efficiency. At the Fed’s Payments Innovation Conference in October, Waller signaled a shift in tone toward decentralized finance.

He encouraged competition from private-sector stablecoins to enhance cross-border payments. He also backed a “skinny” master account framework. This would provide limited Fed access to non-bank crypto firms, a long-standing industry request.

Crypto advocates responded positively. Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, wrote on X that the timing of the interview was ideal.

She highlighted Waller’s work on master accounts for crypto‑native companies and said, “He deserves strong consideration.”

On the decentralized prediction market Polymarket, Waller’s odds of nomination were around 15% as of late Tuesday. He trailed Kevin Hassett at 52% and Kevin Warsh at 29%.

Market analysts suggest that a Waller-led Fed could support digital assets by promoting regulatory clarity and liquidity.

Political Context and What Comes Next

Trump’s search for a new Fed Chair has grown more urgent after his reelection. He has said he regrets appointing Jerome Powell in 2017 and now wants someone more closely aligned with his goals.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Trump may reveal his choice in early January after conducting additional interviews. Other candidates include Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor with strong ties to Trump. Kevin Hassett serves as the current Director of the National Economic Council.

Both support aggressive reforms, though some officials have pushed back on Hassett. Warsh is still seen as a strong contender.
The economic environment adds pressure. The Fed has cut rates by a quarter-point in its last three meetings as inflation and job growth have cooled.

Waller will speak on the economic outlook this morning, which may offer clues before his interview. Crypto markets have remained relatively quiet so far, but could rise if policy signals shift favourably.