Bakkt to the Senate: How Loeffler Became One of Crypto's Most Influential

Thus, in 2018, Loeffler entered the crypto industry by becoming the CEO of Bakkt, a digital assets platform launched by ICE and backed by Microsoft and Starbucks, among other investors.

Still, despite the fruitful start that marked one of the key milestones for crypto last year, Loeffler has left the digital assets platform to pursue a career in Washington, D.C. In December, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed the Bakkt CEO to a seat in the U.S. Senate, replacing Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who retired due to health concerns.

Loeffler is the second woman in history to represent Georgia in the Senate and now the crypto community's highest-placed political advocate.

Loeffler has stepped down from ICE's crypto-focused platform.

Washington and potential conflict of interestDespite leaving Bakkt, Loeffler may continue to participate in the crypto industry's growth as a lawmaker.

John Todaro, director of digital currency research at New York-based data provider TradeBlock, previously told Cointelegraph: "Kelly Loeffler obviously understands the space and is a proponent of it, and so, where applicable on matters before her in the Senate, I would imagine she would be a proponent of bitcoin and other digital currency platforms."

Loeffler started her career in the Senate with a bang, supporting six bills in her first week in office.

As Loeffler put it herself, she is "Pro-Second Amendment, pro-military, pro-Wall and pro-Trump." Ironically, some earlier media reports indicate that Trump is not a fan of Loeffler and preferred to see a different candidate in the U.S. congressional seat.

Most recently, Loeffler has joined the Senate Agriculture Committee, which oversees the CFTC, a regulatory agency with significant oversight of cryptocurrency-based commerce.

To that, Loeffler has stated that she would recuse herself "If needed on a case by case basis." She told The Wall Street Journal, "I have worked hard to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the Senate's ethics rules and will continue to do so every day." Loeffler will serve in the role until a special election is held in November 2020, when she will have to win the vote to remain in office.