You know what is really absurd in this story? It is like bitcoin is become dependent of what is some Donald or Mnuchin think about it, or what will SEC or IRS say. Bitcoin is first decentralized cryptocurrency, and by taking such things seriously we are moving from that.
It's not so much about being dependent as being vulnerable to actions they might take. Bitcoin itself will continue running like it always has thanks to its decentralized nature, but the way its users do their business (and the users themselves, even) could be drastically affected.
As much as it sucks, people in power will always have some amount of influence over the cryptospace because their decisions could ultimately drive users and businesses in, or away. They're not a roadblock to adoption as individuals can get away with dodging regulations, but mass adoption is a different case as not many people are comfortable with risking legal trouble. It's hard to blame people for being invested in issues like this.