US Commerce Official Howard Lutnick Invests in Bitcoin Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce official linked to Cantor Fitzgerald, has increased his firm’s exposure to Bitcoin funds and to companies positioned to gain or resist from recent tariff policy shifts. Public filings show Cantor Fitzgerald added a large position in a Fidelity Bitcoin fund and built stakes in firms such as AMD, Tesla, Alibaba and Robinhood as trade tensions and tariff announcements have reshaped market expectations.
According to securities disclosures, Cantor’s purchases included a position in the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund and sizable holdings in the Robinhood trading platform. Those moves followed a White House waiver granted to Lutnick that permits him to participate in some matters affecting his firm, a development that has drawn scrutiny from watchdogs and watchdog commentary about potential conflicts between public duties and private investments.
Observers note the timing of the investments amid an evolving tariff landscape: the administration delayed certain tariff actions on China while simultaneously expanding new aluminum tariffs across hundreds of product categories, from wind turbines to construction equipment. Trade groups have warned that such unpredictability is forcing companies to delay growth plans, rethink supply chains, and absorb higher input costs.
Analysts and advocacy groups criticized the overlap between policy influence and trading activity. Critics argue that when officials or their close interests retain or acquire positions in industries directly affected by government policy, perceptions of conflict — if not the underlying safeguards — can be undermined.
The broader economic effects of the tariff program have also been highlighted. Reports cited in public commentary estimate tangible price effects on consumers and supply chains, noting higher wholesale and retail prices in affected sectors and projecting measurable short-run increases in overall price levels that would translate into real income effects for households.
Other administration insiders have taken related steps: some have divested large crypto holdings and sought waivers similar to Lutnick’s, while venture and private-capital flows tied to administration advisers continue to pursue federal contracts and government-facing opportunities, especially in AI and related infrastructure.
In short, the combination of tariff policy shifts and disclosed investments by government-linked entities has drawn attention to the intersection of public policy, market positioning and crypto exposure — underscoring concerns about transparency and the appearance of conflicts even as firms and officials argue they are complying with disclosure and ethics rules.
