David Sacks is stepping down from his role as the White House’s AI and crypto czar after reaching the 130-day limit for special government employees. While he pushed for key market structure and stablecoin legislation, those efforts remain unfinished. He will continue advising the administration through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
David Sacks is stepping down from his role as the White House’s AI and crypto czar, closing out a short tenure that helped reshape the U.S. government’s approach to digital assets. In an interview on Thursday, Sacks said his time as a special government employee ended after reaching the 130-day limit.
He will remain involved in the administration as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, where he will advise on a broader set of technology issues. During his time in the White House, Sacks played a central role in shaping the Trump administration’s crypto agenda, including efforts to pass market structure and stablecoin legislation and support for a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve.
He also pushed for clearer digital asset rules and criticized the prior regulatory approach under the Biden administration as overly reliant on enforcement. Sacks had previously stated that market structure and stablecoin legislation could pass within the administration’s first 100 days, though those efforts have been met with resistance as Congress continues to debate the CLARITY Act beyond that timeline.
One early proposal to create a permanent White House “crypto council” of industry leaders never materialized. The administration instead opted for periodic summits and an internal digital-assets working group after industry infighting complicated the plan.
Sacks was involved in early discussions around the administration’s digital asset stockpile and strategic Bitcoin reserve. The reserve is expected to be continuously seeded with Bitcoin seized by the U.S. government, though questions remain over whether and how additional purchases would be funded.
Before taking the role, Sacks said he sold his personal crypto holdings to avoid conflicts of interest. He frequently dismissed concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers and industry participants about Trump’s links to World Liberty Financial, a DeFi firm majority-owned by the President’s sons.
Sacks’ departure leaves the administration’s crypto policy agenda still in progress, with lawmakers continuing to debate how digital assets should be regulated in the U.S. He said Thursday he will continue working on artificial intelligence policy and technology strategy through his new advisory role, stating “As co-chair of PCAST, I can now make a range of recommendations on not just AI but an expanded range of technology topics.”
