Key Insights:
- David Sacks leaves his role as crypto czar for a broader tech advisory as PCAST co-chair.
- PCAST council includes top tech leaders such as Zuckerberg, Brin, and Huang.
- The future of the crypto czar role remains uncertain; key initiatives may face delays.
David Sacks has officially stepped down from his role as the White House’s AI and crypto czar. Now, he is taking a bigger role in shaping the US technology policy. Trump has appointed him as the co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Here, he will oversee a broader range of technology issues and help shape the administration’s engagement with the tech sector.
David Sacks Moves from Crypto Czar to PCAST Co-Chair
According to the latest reports, David Sacks, who served as the US’s first crypto czar, is now named co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). While he stepped down from his role as crypto czar, he is not leaving the Trump administration. Sacks is taking on a bigger role.
Donald Trump’s senior advisor said, “David will always be his crypto and AI czar, but to the admin more broadly, this new role will allow him to advise on a broader range of critical tech issues.”
On Thursday, Sacks confirmed that his $130-day stint as a special government employee has ended. He is now moving on to the new role at PCAST alongside senior White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios. Sacks noted,
“I think moving forward as co-chair of PCAST, I can now make recommendations on not just AI but an expanded range of technology topics.”
David Sacks in a New Role
In his new role, David Sacks will be one step removed from the power centre in Washington. As AI czar, he had a direct line to President Trump and helped shape policy. PCAST, by contrast, is an advisory body. It studies issues, produces reports, and makes recommendations, but doesn’t create policy.
PCAST is a federal advisory group made up of experts from industry and academia. It provides the president with advice and recommendations on technology, science, and innovation, grounded in research and evidence.
The council has been there in the US in some form since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time. But this time, Sacks states, the council will be packed with “star power.” Its initial 15 members include big names like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Google’s Sergey Brin, Marc Andreessen, AMD’s Lisa Su, and Michael Dell.
Notably, the team will focus on AI, advanced semiconductors, quantum computing, and nuclear power. In the near term, it will push forward Trump’s new national AI framework, which aims to replace the confusing patchwork of state-level rules.
Will a New Crypto Czar Be Appointed?
As David Sacks stepped down, the question is: what will be the future of the crypto czar role? Many wonder if there will be a new crypto czar. Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett stated that it remains unclear whether the White House will appoint a new crypto czar.
Key initiatives, including the Clarity Act and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, are still in progress. This leaves a gap in leadership. Thus, experts worry that the sudden departure of David Sacks may slow down the momentum.
It remains unclear whether Sacks will continue to influence these projects from his new role as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
Be the first to comment