David Sacks has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump as the “White House AI and Crypto Czar.” In this role, he will lead efforts to establish a legal framework for crypto regulation and chair the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. Trump emphasized that Sacks will focus on making America the global leader in artificial intelligence and crypto, safeguarding free speech online, and steering away from Big Tech bias and censorship. Sacks, a former PayPal COO and prominent venture capitalist, is expected to leverage his industry insights to shape policies in these critical sectors in line with Trump’s vision to modernize digital and technological policies.
The appointment of David Sacks as the “White House AI and Crypto Czar” aligns with Trump’s efforts to modernize the nation’s digital and technological policies. Sacks, a former PayPal COO and prominent venture capitalist, has been a vocal advocate for technological innovation. His appointment positions him at the helm of crafting policies to secure America’s leadership in artificial intelligence and crypto. Trump has made several pro-crypto appointments in recent months, including nominating crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, signaling a push for clarity and innovation in regulation in these sectors.
The crypto community has largely welcomed David Sacks’ new position, seeing it as a step toward clarity and innovation in regulation. Founders and CEOs of prominent blockchain and cryptocurrency companies have congratulated Sacks and expressed optimism about his ability to address regulatory challenges and develop forward-thinking policies. Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, highlighted Sacks’ background as essential for shaping regulatory policies. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse pointed to Sacks’ deep technological understanding as a strength for advancing innovation in both AI and blockchain. Emilie Choi, Coinbase’s president, praised the decision, emphasizing Sacks’ early involvement in crypto and nuanced understanding of the space.
However, David Sacks is a polarizing figure, with some Silicon Valley tech leaders referring to him as the “most evil person in Silicon Valley” due to controversies surrounding HR company Zenefits. Despite this, former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo commended Sacks for his experience and commitment to free market principles, describing him as the ideal candidate to help America lead in digital technology. Sacks’ appointment as the “White House AI and Crypto Czar” underscores Trump’s focus on positioning the US as a global leader in artificial intelligence and crypto, safeguarding free speech online, and steering away from Big Tech bias and censorship. His industry insights and background are expected to drive his contributions to shaping policies in these critical sectors.
