Democratic lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Monday that she avoids whatsoever and all investments which could potentially represent a conflict of interest, including crypto — and believes her fellow lawmakers should do the aforementioned.

She explained that as a member of the House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee, she felt it was inappropriate for her to hold Bitcoin (BTC) or other digital assets because lawmakers have access to "sensitive information and upcoming policy."

"I practise not believe members of Congress should concord/trade individual stock and I cull not to hold any then I can remain impartial near policy making," said AOC. "I also extend that to digital avails/currencies [...] I want to practise my task as ethically and impartially as I tin."

Screenshot from AOC'south Instagram stories

AOC, a progressive lawmaker who has served in the United States government since 2022, has advocated for wealthy individuals to pay more in federal taxes, spoken out on sexism in Congress and chosen for the cancellation of educatee loan debt. She is also a member of a grouping of six House members known colloquially every bit 'The Team'.

Though members of Congress are permitted to buy, sell and trade stocks and other investments while in office, they are too bound past the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Human action, passed in 2022, which requires them to report any purchase, auction or substitution over $1,000 within 30 to 45 days. Even so, many federal judges and lawmakers have reportedly flouted the law by non disclosing certain investments.

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In the case of crypto in the hands of congressional members, it would seem to be an pick to track investments using a public blockchain database, so both Business firm and Senate leadership could avert placing lawmakers in a position where they would be determining policy on crypto and blockchain if viewed every bit a conflict of interest. Senator Cynthia Lummis reported ownership BTC worth between $50,001 and $100,000 in Baronial. Fifty-fifty though Senator Lummis was openly pro-crypto before beingness sworn into function, she still served on the Senate Banking Commission.