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Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), has announced she will step down from her role in January 2025. Warren, who has led the organization for three years, revealed her decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 13, 2024. She stated that she would remain involved as Senior Global Policy Officer to provide ongoing support. Ji Kim, CCI’s Chief Legal Officer, will take over as Acting CEO.

Warren reflected on her tenure at CCI, noting that when she initially took on the role, the industry was in a very different place. She highlighted the changes she had seen, including the collapse of FTX and the increasing scrutiny from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. Despite the challenges, she expressed confidence in the future, saying she believes the CCI will achieve a smart regulatory outcome in Washington.

Under Warren’s leadership, CCI worked to promote fair cryptocurrency regulations worldwide, commenting on proposed regulations and meeting with government officials. The organization aims to expand its influence across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Earlier in 2024, Warren participated in a roundtable with U.S. Congress members, a Biden administration adviser, and crypto executives, calling the discussion a positive step toward making crypto a nonpartisan issue.

The resignation comes at a time when crypto executives are hopeful that the incoming Trump administration will support the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi). Marcin Kaźmierczak, co-founder of RedStone, said the Trump administration could help DeFi transition from a niche to a mainstream market, driving innovation and investment.

The timing of Warren’s departure also coincides with significant changes at the SEC. Gensler, known for his hardline approach to crypto, will leave the agency in January 2025, and Trump has nominated Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto former SEC Commissioner, to replace him. This has raised expectations that the new administration will create a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto.

Warren’s resignation marks the end of a significant chapter for CCI, an organization that has played a key role in advocating for the digital asset ecosystem. Before leading CCI, Warren founded the World Economic Forum’s blockchain and digital assets team. She was also recognized in 2023 as one of the most powerful women in Washington, D.C., by The Washingtonian. As she steps down, Warren plans to focus on driving innovation and impact in the industry.