David Sacks has been tapped by president Donald Trump to serve as the first-ever White House Crypto Czar. This new role puts David in charge of shaping U.S. crypto and AI policies, as the incoming administration doubles down on its promise to dominate both industries.
He will also chair the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. A partner at Craft Ventures and a major figure in Silicon Valley’s elite “PayPal Mafia,” David is no stranger to crypto. His company backed Multicoin Capital, one of Solana’s earliest supporters, back in 2018.
He hasn’t wavered on his faith in Solana, even after the FTX collapse, and he believes the blockchain will eventually outpace Ethereum. David is also close friends with Vice President-elect JD Vance and eccentric billionaire Elon Musk.
A clear line for crypto regulations
David’s new role comes as Trump tries to overhaul crypto regulations, as he promised. The president announced that: “David will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship. He will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.”
This framework is expected to address regulatory confusion, particularly the debate over whether digital assets are securities or commodities.
See also New social media stunt in crypto: Did Enron just hint at joining the crypto space?
David has been vocal about his preference for a system that classifies certain cryptocurrencies as commodities governed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
During Trump’s campaign, crypto advocacy became a central theme. Trump attended Bitcoin conferences, accepted crypto donations, and held multiple meetings with industry leaders. His administration choices also reflect this focus.
Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent are both known for their crypto-friendly views. The Crypto Czar role links David directly to Congress and federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Under Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC has aggressively pursued crypto firms. David criticized this approach, predicting that the SEC’s influence over crypto would diminish under the new administration. On his podcast, All-In, he called for clear boundaries in crypto regulation.
AI leadership adds to the role
David’s role as chair of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology puts him at the helm of AI policy, a field Trump wants to dominate. During his first term, Trump signed executive orders prioritizing AI research.
Now he plans to repeal Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order, which mandated safety testing and privacy protections for AI systems. The tech’s rapid growth has brought challenges like job displacement, security risks, and privacy concerns.
See also Ethereum faces a $500M blow as Uniswap's shift to Unichain challenges the deflationary model
David will oversee how the federal government navigates these issues while pushing for U.S. leadership in AI development. He’s also expected to work closely with Elon, whose company xAI and chatbot Grok are taking on Silicon Valley giants.
Meanwhile, David will retain his position at Craft Ventures while serving as Crypto Czar. A Craft spokeswoman confirmed he wasn’t leaving the company. His status as a special government employee limits him to 130 days of service per year and allows him to avoid divesting or disclosing his financial holdings.
However, he will have to recuse himself from decisions that directly impact his assets. David himself acknowledged these limitations on his podcast. He mentioned that a “key man” clause in Craft Ventures’ legal documents would likely prevent him from taking a full-time government role.
Land a High-Paying Web3 Job in 90 Days: The Ultimate Roadmap