Former White House Adviser Bo Hines Faces Tether Conflict Scrutiny

Bo Hines, a former White House crypto adviser, is facing scrutiny over financial ties to Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, during his role shaping the Genius Act. Internal documents and records show that Tether steered $6.3 million to Nxum, a consulting firm co-owned by Hines, starting in May 2025.

While serving as Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, Hines advocated for extending the Genius Act's compliance period from 18 to 36 months. This longer window primarily benefited Tether over its U.S. competitors. The Genius Act, signed into law in July 2025, established rules for dollar-pegged stablecoins and created a pathway for issuers to operate in approved countries outside the U.S.

Hines left the White House in August 2025 and was appointed CEO of Tether's new U.S. division in September 2025. A representative for Nxum denies that Hines was aware of the business dealings or received funds while in government service, describing his ownership as a passive investment. The administration has stated that staff are expected to comply with federal ethics laws.