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Elizabeth Warren rips Federal Reserve chair pick Kevin Walsh

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Elizabeth Warren rips Federal Reserve chair pick Kevin Walsh

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts and ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, during a hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a blistering letter to Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh on Thursday, predicting he would serve as a “rubber stamp for President Trump’s Wall Street First Agenda,” and accusing him of having learned “nothing from your failures” during a prior stint at the central bank.

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Warren, D-Mass, in the letter reported first by CNBC, told Warsh that his record as a member of the Fed’s Board of Governors from 2006 until 2011 — which included the 2008-09 financial crisis and Great Recession — “should disqualify you from a promotion.”

“But President Donald Trump has vowed that ‘anybody that disagrees with’ him ‘will never be the Fed Chairman,’ ” Warren noted.

“And you, apparently, have passed his test,” she added.

“As Fed Chair, you will be responsible for directing economy-altering policies that have serious
consequences for American workers and communities,” Warren wrote. “However, your track record leading up to, during, and after the 2008 financial crisis raises significant concerns about your ability to do so.”

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The letter, which CNBC obtained before it was publicly released, asked Warsh pointed, detailed questions about 10 different subject areas to be answered for his confirmation hearing at the Senate Banking Committee, where Warren is the ranking Democrat.

But those queries were buried at the bottom of what reads as a scathing, eight-page indictment of his tenure at the Fed, and what she called his advocacy “against tougher safeguards intended to prevent big bank failures and taxpayer bailouts” after he left the central bank.

“I write to better understand what, if anything, you’ve learned from your failure to prioritize American families over Wall Street before, during, and after the 2008 financial crisis while serving as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,” Warren said in the letter’s first sentence.

“Rather than implementing policies to improve the lives of the American public, you ignored the obviously excessive risk-taking on Wall Street; worked tirelessly to bail out large financial institutions after their bets blew up the economy; and advocated for policies that would have further harmed the millions of Americans who lost their jobs, were thrown out their homes, and saw their life savings evaporate,” she continued.

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Warsh did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC about the letter.

Read more CNBC politics coverage

Warsh’s nomination is in limbo as Warren’s fellow Banking Committee member, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he would effectively block the nomination from being considered by the full Senate until a criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, has indicated she has no intention of dropping that probe.

Pirro’s office is seeking to reverse a ruling on March 11 by a federal judge in Washington, blocking subpoenas issued to the Fed as part of its investigation of Powell, which is purportedly focused on cost overruns of the pricey renovation of the Fed’s headquarters and testimony about that project to the Banking Committee.

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District Court Judge James Boasberg, in his order quashing those subpoenas, wrote, “There is abundant evidence that the subpoenas’ dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign and make way for a Fed Chair who will.”

Trump has repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, pressured Powell and the entire Board of Governors to cut interest rates more quickly and deeply than they have since Trump reentered the White House in January 2025.

Powell earlier in March said he would remain as chair pro tem if Warsh is not confirmed by May, when Powell’s term as chair expires.

In her letter to Warsh on Thursday, Warren said that when he began his service on the Board of Governors, there were “warning signs of the coming crisis” in the subprime home-lending market.

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“Yet rather than using the Fed’s powerful supervisory and regulatory authorities to address the severe consumer and financial stability risks posed by subprime mortgages, you defended and even implicitly promoted these products,” Warren wrote.

“Astonishingly, in December 2007, you agreed that “subprime mortgages have gotten a bad name
in this environment,” she wrote. “You also promoted derivatives and other forms of ‘financial innovation’ as vehicles to disperse risk and make the financial system safer.”

“Again, you were wrong.”

Warren said that during the resultant financial crisis, “you appear to have prioritized the interests of large financial institutions ahead of the American public.”

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“Your eagerness to bail out Wall Street, including through taxpayer-assisted megamergers, was not surprising, given the seven years you spent as a Morgan Stanley mergers and acquisitions executive prior to joining the George W. Bush Administration,” Warren wrote.

“It has been well-documented that you played a central role helping to arrange numerous [multibillion-dollar] bailouts and even obtained an ethics waiver to deal directly with Morgan Stanley, which received the special regulatory approvals from the Fed on an expedited basis necessary to access additional emergency support.”

The senator said Warsh also advocated for higher interest rates at the time, “further imperiling an ailing economy” that was hemorrhaging jobs.

“Your monetary policy record shows a repeated failure to accurately assess the impact of inflation on the American economy,” Warren wrote.

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“It appears you have learned nothing from your failures,” she wrote.

“Since leaving the Fed, you have advocated against tougher safeguards intended to prevent big bank failures and taxpayer bailouts.”

— CNBC’s Matt Peterson contributed to this article.

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Coinbase and Better prepare crypto mortgages backed by Fannie Mae

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Coinbase and Better prepare crypto mortgages backed by Fannie Mae

Better Home & Finance and Coinbase are preparing a new mortgage product tied to Fannie Mae-backed loans, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on March 26. 

Summary

  • Better and Coinbase plan a mortgage product that lets homebuyers use crypto holdings as collateral.
  • The reported structure would combine a standard mortgage with a separate loan backed by crypto.
  • Current Fannie Mae rules require crypto conversion to dollars, making this product a policy shift.

The product would let some homebuyers use crypto as collateral instead of selling those holdings before closing.

The report said the new offer would allow buyers to “pledge their crypto holdings” when taking out a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae. Better Home & Finance would act as the lender, while Coinbase would support the crypto side of the product.

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The structure would use two loans. One would be a standard Fannie Mae-backed mortgage, while the second would be backed by the borrower’s crypto assets.

Reports said Bitcoin and USDC are expected to be part of the program, but full eligibility details were not available at publication time. The report also said the pledged crypto could not be traded while it secures the loan.

Borrowers would not need to sell their digital assets for a down payment. Reports added that rates on the crypto-backed portion could run above standard mortgage pricing.

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Fannie Mae’s current selling guide says virtual currency can count only after it is converted into U.S. dollars and placed in a regulated financial institution. That means this new structure would mark a change from the existing approach.

The move also follows a 2025 FHFA order that told Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider crypto holdings in mortgage loan assessments. The new product would take that process further by linking crypto directly to mortgage collateral.

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Trump to Sign U.S. Dollars, Ending 1861 Tradition

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Crypto Breaking News

The idea of a sitting U.S. president lending his signature to the nation’s currency is an unprecedented moment in the ongoing relationship between state-backed money and cultural symbolism. According to Reuters, the U.S. Treasury disclosed that President Donald J. Trump’s signature would appear on future U.S. notes as part of a commemorative push tied to the United States’ Semiquincentennial.

The plan would mark the first time a sitting president’s signature appears on U.S. currency, shifting away from the long-standing convention of signatures from the treasurer and the Treasury secretary. Reuters reports that the initial print run of $100 bills bearing Trump’s signature alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s is slated for June, with additional denominations to follow in the months after.

Beyond the currency, the U.S. Mint has reportedly considered issuing $1 coins showing the president’s likeness as part of the same 250th-anniversary effort. In late 2025, the Mint released proposed designs featuring Trump’s image and the motto “In God We Trust.”

Trump’s imprint has already threaded through popular culture in various forms, including into cryptocurrencies and collectibles. In crypto circles, a memecoin named after Trump has drawn attention, alongside multiple NFT projects, including the widely publicized Trump Digital Trading Cards.

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The Treasury move comes with controversy. Some lawmakers have argued that altering the signatures on U.S. currency would require congressional authorization, casting doubt on the legality of moving ahead without legislative action. The broader cultural reshaping around Trump’s public persona has also spurred diverse reactions, including debates over the renaming of major U.S. landmarks. Reuters and other outlets documented discussions around the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where reports described a board dominated by Trump appointees voting to rename the venue to the “Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

In parallel coverage from crypto-focused outlets, Trump’s footprint in the space—through memes, cards, and other collectibles—highlights how political branding can spill into the digital asset ecosystem. While a currency signature may seem esoteric to traders, the episode underscores a broader trend: the fusion of political branding, national symbolism, and the evolving culture around crypto assets.

Key takeaways

  • The Treasury’s plan would make Trump the first sitting U.S. president to have his signature appear on U.S. currency, tied to the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration, according to Reuters.
  • The first $100 bills bearing Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signatures are slated for printing in June, with other denominations to follow later in the year.
  • There is reported consideration of issuing $1 coins featuring the president’s likeness as part of the same commemorative initiative, supported by proposed 2025 designs.
  • Trump’s presence in crypto culture—through a memecoin and NFT projects—illustrates how political branding intersects with digital assets and community storytelling.
  • Lawmakers have raised questions about the legality of changing currency signatures without congressional authorization, reflecting governance and constitutional considerations.

Currency symbolism and the timing of a historic shift

By linking a sitting president’s signature to U.S. currency, the narrative expands beyond monetary mechanics into national symbolism. The Reuters coverage situates the move within a broader commemorative framework for the 250th anniversary of the United States, signaling a potential long-term shift in how currency can carry living political branding. The printing schedule for the initial notes—in June—provides a concrete timeline that will test traditional processes around currency design and circulation.

Commemorative design and potential coin additions

The Mint’s exploration of $1 coins featuring the president’s image indicates a multi-denomination approach to the same commemorative moment. The late-2025 designs had already showcased Trump’s likeness and the inscription “In God We Trust,” suggesting a planned, broad-based branding exercise rather than a narrow currency reform. How these designs would interact with existing patriotic and historic themes remains to be seen, particularly given the regulatory and procedural layers involved in issuing new coinage.

Crypto crosscurrents: branding, memes, and market psychology

The intersection of presidential symbolism with crypto culture is not new, but it continues to shape sentiment and participation in digital asset communities. Reports of a Trump-themed memecoin and related NFT ventures illustrate how political narratives can permeate meme economies and collectible markets, sometimes driving attention and liquidity into otherwise niche corners of the crypto ecosystem. This convergence raises questions for traders and builders about how political branding might influence perception, liquidity, and the cultural value of associated digital assets.

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Governance questions and the legislative dimension

Amid the excitement, questions about authorization and legality have surged. Some lawmakers contend that altering currency signatures without congressional action could be unlawful or legally ambiguous, foregrounding a governance tension between executive actions and legislative necessity. Separately, the naming controversy surrounding a major cultural institution—spurred by Trump-aligned appointments—has fed a wider debate about presidential influence over public landmarks and the potential implications for fiscal and cultural policy.

The unfolding story sits at the crossroads of monetary history, national symbolism, and the evolving relationship between politics and crypto culture. As authorities prepare for the first run of Trump-signature notes and potential commemorative coins, market observers will be watching not only for the practical rollout but also for any regulatory clarifications and the way communities across crypto and traditional finance interpret this blend of state power and branding.

Readers should watch for official updates from the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Mint about certification, design finals, and distribution timelines, as well as any legislative action clarifying the authorization requirements for signing changes on currency. The convergence of currency symbolism and crypto branding could set a precedent for how political narratives shape both fiat and digital-asset narratives in the months ahead.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Key Bitcoin Price Levels to Watch as BTC Dips Below $70K

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Key Bitcoin Price Levels to Watch as BTC Dips Below $70K

Bitcoin (BTC) sellers resumed their activity on Thursday as the BTC price slipped below the $70,000 mark.

Analysts said that Bitcoin showed signs of a bear market in its last stages, due to extreme fear and elevated realized and unrealized losses. 

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin enters the last stages of the bear market, characterized by extreme fear and most BTC supply in loss.

  • High unrealized losses and a 96% drop in realized profits suggest “demand exhaustion.”

  • $70,000 remains the main BTC level to watch for now, with $65,000-$60,000 support below.

Bitcoin holder losses increase

Bitcoin’s bear market has seen its price draw down by more than 44% from its $126,000 all-time high, reached on Oct. 6, 2025.

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This has pushed its Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL), the difference between total profits and losses currently held by investors, below 0.25, placing it in the “hope/fear zone,” according to data from CryptoQuant.

Related: $18.6B in Bitcoin options expire Friday: Should traders prepare for $75K BTC?

This means, “roughly 40% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply is held at a loss,” CryptoQuant analyst The Enigma Trader said in a Quicktake note.

Coupled with the Fear and Greed Index in the “Extreme Fear” at 15, this “reflects pain and uncertainty,” the analyst said, adding:

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“A NUPL recovery above 0.25 would mark a transition into the optimism zone, a shift that has historically aligned with strengthening price momentum.”

Bitcoin net unrealized profit and loss. Source: CryptoQuant

This structurally resembles conditions seen in previous bear markets, where the NUPL continued dropping to areas below 0 as Bitcoin found its bottom.  

When analysing the volume of coins held at a loss as a fraction of total market capitalization, Glassnode found that the 7-day simple moving average (SMA) of relative unrealized losses has stabilized at 15%.

“This positions the current sentiment as one of elevated fear,” Glassnode said in its latest Week On-chain newsletter, adding:

“Historically, resolving this level of embedded loss requires either time, further price depression, or an extraordinary and sustained influx of fresh capital within a compressed timeframe.”

Bitcoin: Unrealized loss. Source: Glassnode

Bitcoin’s entity-adjusted realized profit has also dropped from a peak of $3 billion per day in July 2025 to below $0.1 billion today.

This is a more than 96% decline, “offering further evidence of demand exhaustion,” Glassnode said, adding:

“Contractions of this magnitude are a textbook characteristic of a bear market transitioning into its later stages, where the pool of profitable sellers has been largely depleted, and on-chain liquidity thins to cycle lows.”

Bitcoin entity-adjusted realized profit. Source: Glassnode

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant analyst Crypto Dan said that while some indicators suggest BTC/USD bottomed at $60,000, “more consistent and decisive confirmation signals” are required to confirm a true bottom. 

Cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin Price, Markets, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Source: X/CryptoQuant

Watch these Bitcoin price levels next

Since recovering from multi-year lows below $60,000, the BTC/USD pair remains stuck in a range with $64,000 as support and $72,000 as resistance.

Bitcoin is now fighting to hold on to the 1w–1m cohort cost basis at $70,200, “marking the developing support floor,” Glassnode said.

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However, the cost basis distribution heatmap shows a modest accumulation cluster at this level, making it “vulnerable.” Glassnode:

“A higher probability of a breakdown below this level cannot be dismissed until a more substantial base of committed buyers is established.”

Bitcoin realized price by age. Source: Glassnode

Below that, the next major level to watch is Bitcoin’s realized price around $54,000. The 2022 bear market bottom was formed after Bitcoin dropped toward its realized price. 

On the upside, Glassnode said that the 1m-3m cohort cost basis at $82,200 represented a key overhead resistance, coinciding with a heavy concentration of short-term holder supply above $84,000.

This is a “cohort that could amplify sell pressure whether price stages a recovery toward those levels or faces a renewed episode of market stress,” Glassnode added.

In an X post on Thursday, technical analyst CryptoPatel said Bitcoin’s recent surge to $76,000 was just a lower high, adding that the higher time frame structure points “lower from here,” with the next real area of interest sitting under $50,000.

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“Even if $76K breaks, there is another bearish order block between $86,000 and $90,000 waiting right above.”

BTC/USD daily chart. Source: X/Crypto Patel

As Cointelegraph reported, a close below the 20-day exponential moving average at $70,303 could fuel BTC’s price drop toward the $62,500-$60,000 support zone.