Thanks for the write-up, @jrcornel. I completely agree with your takeaway.
I read the Bitcoin.com headline the other day (https://news.bitcoin.com/trump-to-appoint-bitcoin-skeptic-powell-as-fed-chair/), but when compared to Powell's quotes that they used, it felt entirely misleading.
It sounds like he has an open mind and understands the immense power that any sort of heavy-handed regulation would do to a nascent ecosystem.
His actual skepticism of state-backed cryptocurrencies means he understands the technology more than his critics are giving him credit for, which is a great thing. We'll have to wait and see.