Emre Yumlu 
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has appointed longtime official Trish Turner to lead its digital assets division following the departure of key executives. With nearly two decades of experience at the IRS, Turner most recently served as a senior advisor within the Digital Assets Office.
This leadership shift comes at a pivotal time for U.S. crypto taxation policy, as the agency faces mounting internal and external pressures.
Senior Figures Step Down
As of May 5, two crypto-focused specialists with private sector backgrounds stepped down from their roles within the IRS after about a year of service. Sulolit “Raj” Mukherjee, who held the position of Executive Director of Compliance and Implementation, and Seth Wilks, responsible for Strategy and Development, both confirmed their departures.
In a public statement, Wilks noted the challenges faced by federal employees in recent months, adding, “If stepping aside helps someone else keep their job, I’m at peace with that decision.”
IRS Tightens Oversight on Crypto Activities
In recent years, the IRS has ramped up its scrutiny of digital asset transactions, intensifying audits and launching more criminal investigations. It has also worked on expanding its reporting rules, including controversial proposals affecting decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms.
One such proposal, which would have required DeFi platforms to report transaction data and gross proceeds, was scrapped during Donald Trump’s previous term. Initially set to take effect in 2027, the rule faced backlash from the crypto community due to concerns over privacy and compliance burdens.
A Softer Regulatory Stance in Washington
With the return of the Trump administration, U.S. federal agencies have begun scaling back stringent regulations that were viewed as stifling digital asset innovation. For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has paused several enforcement actions, and the Department of Justice has disbanded its cryptocurrency enforcement unit.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing within the IRS itself. A recently reintroduced deferred resignation policy by Trump has reportedly led over 23,000 IRS employees to consider leaving their posts, raising alarms about staffing stability and morale.
Under Turner’s leadership, the agency will be tasked with redefining its digital asset strategy. In a changing political and regulatory environment, how the IRS approaches the crypto space moving forward remains a key question.
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