David Sacks Steps Down to Become Co-Chair of PCAST: Is the U.S. Crypto and AI Policy Direction Changing?

Gate News update: David Sacks has officially ended his 130-day tenure as White House Crypto and Artificial Intelligence Affairs Director and has moved on to become the co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), continuing to take part in U.S. technology policy-making. Under relevant rules, the term limit for government special appointees is 130 days within 12 months; this change is a role transition following the institutional expiration of his term.

Even though he is no longer serving as the “Crypto Czar,” Sacks’s new position remains consistent with his prior responsibilities. As co-chair of PCAST, he will participate in policy research on artificial intelligence, digital assets, and broader technology issues, and submit recommendations to the White House and relevant regulators after they are formed. White House insiders say his influence has not weakened; instead, it has expanded further in terms of the range of topics covered.

During his tenure, Sacks led the President’s Digital Asset Market Working Group. The group released a regulatory recommendations report in 2025, which had a significant impact on the policy framework for the U.S. crypto industry. In addition, he also helped advance a national-level artificial intelligence strategy, including adjustments to chip export rules and optimization of the federal regulatory pathway.

Of particular note, the lineup of PCAST members includes several key figures from the tech industry, such as Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Lisa Su, and other corporate executives, indicating that the committee will focus on key areas including artificial intelligence, computing-power infrastructure, and national technological competitiveness.

Sacks has made clear that one of his future priorities is to promote a unified AI regulatory framework, avoiding enforcement confusion caused by policy fragmentation across U.S. states. He supports establishing a more consistent federal framework to improve regulatory efficiency and foster technological development.

This personnel change comes against the backdrop of ongoing adjustments to U.S. technology policy. As artificial intelligence and digital assets continue to rise in prominence in national strategy, the structure of policy-making is also gradually evolving. Sacks’s role transition may affect the coordination approach and rollout pace for future crypto and AI regulation.