U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a prominent advocate for cryptocurrency legislation, has decided not to run for another term after her current one ends in January 2027. The Wyoming Republican cited exhaustion from the demanding legislative sessions as a key reason for her retirement. Despite stepping away from re-election, she plans to focus on advancing key crypto bills in 2026.
Senator Cynthia Lummis, the Republican from Wyoming and chair of the Senate Banking Committee's digital assets subcommittee, announced on Friday that she will not seek re-election. Her term is set to conclude in January 2027, marking the end of her first six years in the Senate, where she has been a leading voice for the cryptocurrency industry.
In a statement released as Congress recessed for the holiday break, Lummis explained her decision stemmed from the grueling pace of recent sessions. "Deciding not to run for re-election does represent a change of heart for me, but in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do not have six more years in me," she said. She likened herself to "a sprinter in a marathon," adding, "The energy required doesn’t match up."
Lummis, often called the "Crypto Queen," has been instrumental in bipartisan efforts to regulate digital assets. She has collaborated closely with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, on comprehensive legislation to clarify oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Senate Banking Committee is advancing this market structure bill, with plans to amend and pass it out of committee in early 2026 before reconciliation with a House version.
Her legislative priorities also include crypto tax reforms, such as ending double taxation on miners and stakers and exempting transactions under $300 from taxes. Additionally, Lummis has advocated for a bill to codify President Donald Trump's proposed strategic bitcoin reserve into law. She was a lead negotiator on a bipartisan stablecoins bill that became law in July 2025.
Despite her retirement plans, Lummis remains committed to her work. "I look forward to continuing this partnership and throwing all my energy into bringing important legislation to his desk in 2026 and into retaining commonsense Republican control of the U.S. Senate," she said, referring to President Trump.
The announcement has drawn reactions from the crypto community. Ji Kim, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, praised her as a "leading champion for digital assets in Washington," noting that her efforts have elevated digital assets policy and strengthened U.S. innovation.
In Wyoming, a solidly Republican state where Lummis won nearly 73% of the vote in 2020, her seat is expected to remain in GOP hands. Representative Harriet Hageman is considering a run and may announce her candidacy next month.
