**US Government Shutdown May End This Week, But Crypto ETF Delays Persist**
The US government shutdown, which began on October 1 and has now stretched to its 20th day, may come to an end soon. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC that the shutdown will likely conclude sometime this week. If this holds true, it would mark the third longest government shutdown in US history.
Hassett placed blame for the impasse on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, expressing optimism that moderate Democrats will help reopen the government. Once reopened, both parties can negotiate policies through regular order. However, Hassett warned that if Democrats do not cooperate, the Trump administration may resort to stronger measures.
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### Crypto ETF Applications Face Delays Amid Shutdown
The prolonged shutdown has had ripple effects across various sectors, including the cryptocurrency industry. Several cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications—specifically those for Litecoin, XRP, and Solana—remain pending approval at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Due to the shutdown, the SEC is unable to make final decisions on these applications, delaying their progress.
Notably, Kevin Hassett holds over $1 million in Coinbase stock and is reportedly being considered as a potential replacement for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in May 2026.
Beyond ETFs, the shutdown has also affected discussions concerning former President Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. In mid-September, US lawmakers met with Michael Saylor and 17 other crypto industry leaders to discuss the BITCOIN Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis aimed at facilitating Bitcoin purchases in budget-neutral ways.
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### Democrats to Meet Crypto Executives to Discuss Market Structure Legislation
Despite the government closure, some regulatory work continues. On Wednesday, Democratic Senators plan to host a roundtable meeting with executives from leading crypto companies including Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple. The focus will be on advancing the proposed US crypto market structure bill.
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### Political Stalemate and Shutdown Outlook
Republicans currently seek a short-term funding resolution maintaining current spending levels, while Democrats demand additional healthcare spending and an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits. Hassett suggested that Democrats might be delaying a funding vote until after protests against President Trump scheduled for the weekend. He expressed hope that progress could occur quickly once these demonstrations conclude.
However, prediction markets paint a more cautious picture. According to Polymarket, there is a 71% chance the government shutdown will last beyond 30 days, extending at least until October 31. The platform shows traders favor the shutdown ending between October 23 and 26, an outcome whose probability has risen sharply from below 10% a week ago to around 35% currently. Meanwhile, the odds of resolution after mid-November have declined to approximately 27%. Trading volumes on Polymarket have surged as investors closely monitor developments.
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As both parties remain divided over funding priorities, the nation waits anxiously for a resolution that will reopen the government and resume critical functions, including those impacting the burgeoning cryptocurrency market.
https://coincentral.com/white-house-adviser-says-government-shutdown-likely-to-end-this-week/
