Trump Nominates Crypto Lawyer Eric Tung to Ninth Circuit Court

President Donald Trump nominated Eric Tung, a Jones Day partner who represents cryptocurrency companies, to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court covers nine western states, including California and Washington.

Tung joined Jones Day in 2019. He represented the Blockchain Association in litigation against the U.S. Treasury Department brought by Tornado Cash users. He also defended an investor who sued HDR Global Trading Limited, BitMEX exchange’s parent company.Watchdog group Accountable.US, which frequently opposes Trump nominees, criticized Tung’s nomination, saying his career involved “representing crypto firms seeking to avoid government regulation.” In court briefs, Tung argued that stablecoin sales do not qualify as securities offerings and opposed restrictions on immutable smart contracts.

The Ninth Circuit frequently hears appeals involving technology and cryptocurrency due to its jurisdiction over Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. In 2024, a three-judge panel partially reversed a class-action lawsuit that accused Binance.US of manipulating HEX token prices.

Trump sent Tung’s nomination to the Senate on July 15, 2025. The Senate Judiciary Committee received the nomination for review. Congress is also considering several bills about digital asset regulation.

Tung previously worked as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York from 2014 to 2019. He handled white-collar criminal cases during his time as a prosecutor.

The Ninth Circuit covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The court also oversees Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is the largest federal appeals court by population and geographic area.

If confirmed, Tung would hear appeals involving Silicon Valley companies and cryptocurrency businesses. The court’s decisions affect both civil and criminal cases in the technology sector.

The confirmation process requires a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing followed by a full Senate vote. No hearing date has been scheduled yet.