Bitcoin News Today: Congresswoman's Late Bitcoin ETF Disclosure Ties to Pro-Crypto Bill Timing, Raising Conflict Concerns

title1^[1] Congresswoman Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.) has been cited for violating the STOCK Act by failing to disclose stock and cryptocurrency transactions within the 45-day mandatory reporting window. The violations include a July 9, 2025, purchase of $100,000 to $250,000 worth of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT), attributed to her husband or portfolio manager. The transaction was disclosed months after the purchase, alongside other trades such as Apple, Microsoft, and U.S. Treasury notes, incurring a $200 late fee for the first offense.

title2^[2] The delayed disclosure has intensified scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and public trust in congressional trading activities. Quiver Quantitative highlighted the timing of Biggs' Bitcoin ETF purchase, noting that a pro-crypto legislative bill was passed a week later. This sequence raises questions about whether the trade influenced or was influenced by the policy shift, though no direct causal link has been established.

title1^[1] The STOCK Act violations are not isolated. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) also disclosed trades years after the fact, with McClain's late filing including a $600-percentage gain on Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) shares. These cases underscore ongoing challenges in enforcing transparency for elected officials, whose trades often involve spouses or third-party managers, complicating accountability.

title1^[1] Benzinga's Government Trades page, which tracks congressional transactions, revealed that Biggs' disclosures spanned multiple months, including sales of major equities like Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The ETF purchase, while not uncommon in the broader market, has drawn attention due to its timing and the political context. The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has seen significant inflows in 2025, reflecting broader institutional interest in crypto assets.

title2^[2] The incident aligns with a broader legislative push to clarify crypto regulations. While the BITCOIN Act of 2025, introduced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), focuses on establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Biggs' trade highlights the disconnect between policy and practice. The pro-crypto bill's passage in July 2025, coinciding with Biggs' ETF purchase, underscores the growing political alignment with crypto markets but also raises concerns about regulatory arbitrage.

title1^[1] Analysts caution that such violations erode public confidence in the integrity of congressional trading. The STOCK Act's $200 penalty is seen as a nominal deterrent, with critics arguing for stricter penalties or outright bans on trading for lawmakers. The case also highlights the need for clearer guidelines on the role of spouses and portfolio managers in congressional transactions, a gap that has enabled repeated noncompliance.

title1^[1] As of September 2025, the U.S. has seen over 100 new crypto-related bills introduced in the 119th Congress, reflecting heightened legislative activity. While Biggs' case is a procedural infraction, it serves as a reminder of the challenges in balancing political interests with financial transparency. With Bitcoin ETFs gaining traction and institutional adoption rising, the spotlight on congressional conduct is likely to intensify.