29-year-old crypto newcomer Bo Hines: From White House crypto "liaison" to swiftly taking the helm of Tether's US stablecoin.

Author: Zen, PANews

Just a month after leaving the White House, 29-year-old former Executive Director of the White House Presidential Digital Asset Advisory Committee Bo Hines has pushed through the revolving door again, securing a "top job"—on September 12, Tether announced the appointment of Bo Hines as the CEO of Tether USAT.

USAT, a stablecoin supported by the US regulatory framework and the US dollar, is the latest stablecoin project launched by stablecoin giant Tether. It aims to provide a digital alternative to cash and traditional payment methods for businesses and institutions. This is also Tether's "new creation" under US regulatory requirements following the signing of the genius bill targeting stablecoins in the United States.

Tether has always attracted attention for its high profitability, with profits exceeding $13 billion in 2024 and an average profit of over $80 million per person, making it one of the highest revenue-generating companies globally on a per capita basis. For Bo Hines, who has transitioned from politics to business, choosing to collaborate with Tether could not be more appropriate.

After brushing up political and business resources, all in cryptocurrency

On August 10, 2025, Bo Hines announced his resignation from government positions. The news quickly went viral in the cryptocurrency community, and within a few days, more than fifty companies extended invitations to him. After leaving politics, Hines devoted himself to the cryptocurrency industry, and just 9 days later, on August 19, he announced that he would join Tether as a strategic advisor for digital assets and the US market, responsible for business development in the US market, deeply engaging with policymakers and industry groups, and ultimately taking over the "leadership" of USAT.

The transition from resignation to onboarding was basically "seamless," which inevitably leads to speculation that perhaps Tether extended an "irresistible" offer to him, prompting his career shift.

In just over half a year, Hines laid the foundation for his future involvement in the crypto industry, thanks to the connections and influence he accumulated during his time at the White House.

In January 2025, shortly after taking office, the new Trump administration appointed Bo Hines as the Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. The council, led by Silicon Valley venture capitalist David Sacks, aims to guide the overall U.S. policy on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

Trump, Bo Hines (far right) and David Sacks (far left) The message released by the White House indicates that the Trump administration hopes to establish the United States as a global "crypto capital" and ensure that the digital financial technology industry is "not hindered by cumbersome regulations." Hines has been assigned the role of "the liaison between the White House and the crypto industry," and he has publicly stated multiple times that he wants to ensure the crypto industry "has all the necessary conditions for prosperous development," opposing regulatory crackdowns on the industry.

In an interview with Fox News, Hines stated that under the Biden administration, the cryptocurrency industry has become a victim of "legal battles" and unfair regulation. He also emphasized that the U.S. must not fall behind in technological innovation and "must lead the technological advancements of traditional financial markets."

During this period, Hines became one of the key figures in promoting legislation for stablecoins and digital assets. In June 2025, the U.S. Senate passed a stablecoin regulation bill (known as the GENIUS Act) by an overwhelming majority, marking an important milestone in establishing a federal regulatory framework for dollar-pegged crypto tokens. The bill requires stablecoin issuers to fully back their reserves with liquid assets such as U.S. dollars or short-term government bonds, and to publicly disclose their reserve composition on a monthly basis.

Hines publicly stated that the White House hopes to push the bill through before August. After the legislation is passed, he has mentioned on several occasions that he has witnessed the enormous potential of stablecoins to "modernize payments and promote financial inclusion" in the modern payment system.

In promoting these policies, Hines received support from industry and government officials. David Sacks, a veteran in the crypto space and the White House's "AI and Crypto Czar," also publicly praised his work. Regarding Hines's joining, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated to the media that Hines "has a deep understanding of the legislative process" and will be a valuable asset for Tether's entry into the U.S. market.

USAT is Tether's initiative to shift towards compliance in the U.S. under its global expansion, in collaboration with Anchorage Digital (the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S.) and Cantor Fitzgerald, ensuring that the issuance and reserve management of USAT comply with the Genius Act. Among them, the well-known Cantor is a significant broker for U.S. Treasury bonds and has been a long-term partner for Tether in purchasing U.S. Treasury bonds, becoming a shareholder of Tether in 2024. Its CEO, Howard Lutnick, also joined the Trump administration this year as the Secretary of Commerce. Prior to this, in the face of EU regulations, Tether had only entered the EU stablecoin market indirectly by investing in multiple stablecoin companies.

Bo Hines Before Aspiring to Politics: Football Player and Bitcoin

Bo Hines was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended Charlotte Christian School. Hines is known for his athletic talents and was later recruited by North Carolina State University to become a college football player, playing for the NC State Wolfpack.

In the new season, Hines led the team with 616 receiving yards. With his outstanding performance, he was selected to the All-American Freshman Team, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman All-Star Team, and the ACC Academic All-Star Team in his freshman year.

In 2014, Hines played for North Carolina State University (No. 82) When he was triumphant on the field, Hines's life first brushed against cryptocurrency: the 2014 St. Petersburg Bowl was sponsored by the payment company BitPay, and when he saw the banner "Bitcoin Accepted Here" on the field, it marked the first time the then 19-year-old Hines encountered Bitcoin. After the game, he used part of his living expenses to buy his first batch of Bitcoin, becoming one of the earliest college athletes to enter this field.

In 2015, driven by the ideal of "studying politics and pursuing public service," Hines decided to transfer from NC State to Yale University. At Yale, he majored in political science, balancing academics with sports, and served as the co-chair of the student athlete committee. He also launched a podcast called "Bo Knows," discussing hot topics in American politics, which gained him considerable recognition among his peers. Outside of academics, he continuously accumulated political experience by interning in the offices of Senator Mike Rounds and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb.

due to cryptocurrencies during the Trump administration

Until the last segment of his athletic career at Yale, Hines suffered two consecutive season-ending shoulder injuries, forcing him to prematurely end his football career. After leaving the field, he fully shifted his focus to the fields of politics and law. After graduating from Yale, he entered Wake Forest University School of Law to pursue a degree in law. Here, his research direction gradually locked in on "the law and policy of crypto assets," studying issues including how the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates cryptocurrencies. This learning experience and practical exploration laid the foundation for him to later become a government crypto advisor.

Hines's former professor Raina Haque stated that Hines shows interest in the cryptocurrency field, but is not a staunch supporter of Bitcoin. "He wasn't initially a crypto enthusiast; it seemed like he believed cryptocurrency was the solution to all the world's problems."

After entering the political arena, Hines attempted to run for Congress twice but was unsuccessful both times. In 2022, he broke through and won the Republican primary, but lost in the general election to Democratic candidate Wiley Nickel. Notably, his campaign funding came from a trust fund and a political action committee founded by former executives of the cryptocurrency company FTX. In 2023, Hines ran for office again but did not receive Trump's endorsement again, finishing fourth in the primary.

The defeat in the election did not dampen his enthusiasm for public service; instead, it gradually shifted his focus to the digital asset field, which he has long been interested in. After the political campaign, he operated a "Anti-Awaken" themed company and participated in the design of a Trump-themed memecoin. Like the token personally released by Trump this year, the mem token released by Hines also soared before plummeting.

With the experience of two election campaigns and research on cryptocurrency regulation in law, Hines found himself able to excel in the field of policymaking at the intersection of government and the cryptocurrency industry. Dan Spuller, Senior Director of Industry Affairs at the Blockchain Association (Blockchain Association), also stated that Hines is one of the few who can balance both cryptocurrency and MAGA.

And the story that followed, we all already know.