BlockchainRegulation
|4 min ReadSilicon Valley’s Power Broker Inside the White House Is Helping Himself and His Circle
Jax Morales
Senior Analyst
Published
Jan 16, 2026
David Sacks arrived in Washington this year carrying unusual leverage. As the Trump administration’s A.I. and crypto czar, he gained direct influence over federal technology policy. At the same time, he continued to operate as a venture capitalist with hundreds of active investments across artificial intelligence, software, defense technology, and digital assets.
In July, that dual role was on full display at a high profile A.I. summit in Washington. President Donald Trump appeared alongside senior Silicon Valley executives to unveil an A.I. Action Plan aimed at accelerating domestic development and loosening regulatory constraints. The plan, drafted in part by Sacks, emphasized rapid deployment, expanded chip exports, and fast tracked data center construction.
The audience included executives from Nvidia and AMD, defense contractors, and longtime business partners of Sacks. The policies announced that day were widely viewed as favorable to many of those firms, particularly U.S. chipmakers positioned to expand overseas sales.
Since entering government service, Sacks has been designated a special government employee, a status that allows him to advise the White House without drawing a salary and without fully severing private business ties. According to financial disclosures reviewed by The New York Times, Sacks retains stakes in hundreds of technology companies, including hundreds with direct or indirect links to artificial intelligence.
The administration has said Sacks sold or divested the vast majority of potentially conflicting holdings and received ethics waivers covering the remainder. Critics argue the disclosures lack clarity on timing, valuation, and the scope of indirect benefits created by policy decisions he helps shape.
One of the most consequential areas of influence has been semiconductor exports. Sacks emerged as a vocal supporter of loosening restrictions on overseas sales of advanced U.S. A.I. chips, aligning with arguments from Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang. In internal discussions, Sacks promoted the view that restricting exports would only accelerate foreign competitors, particularly in China.
That approach culminated in a major agreement to send large volumes of U.S. A.I. chips to the United Arab Emirates, a deal analysts estimate could generate up to two hundred billion dollars in revenue for Nvidia. Some national security officials reportedly raised concerns about downstream access to the technology, but the deal moved forward.
Beyond chips, Sacks has supported legislation shaping the future of digital assets. He publicly backed the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin regulatory framework passed by Congress in July. The bill was hailed by the crypto industry as a turning point that could unlock large scale institutional adoption.
One beneficiary was BitGo, a crypto custody firm in which Craft Ventures, Sacks’s investment firm, owns a significant stake. Shortly after the bill passed, BitGo highlighted the new regulatory clarity and later filed for an initial public offering.
Sacks’s influence has also extended into media. His podcast, All In, has gained access to senior administration officials, hosted cabinet secretaries, and featured multiple appearances by President Trump. The show’s audience and commercial revenue have grown alongside Sacks’s government role, raising further questions about the blending of policy access and private platforms.
Defenders inside the administration describe Sacks as an essential bridge between Washington and Silicon Valley, arguing that his experience helps the United States move faster in a global technology race. Critics, including some former Trump advisers, say the arrangement reflects a broader pattern of concentrated power where policy, capital, and influence reinforce one another.
As the administration continues to reshape A.I. and crypto regulation, David Sacks remains at the center of both worlds. His case illustrates how modern technology governance increasingly intersects with private investment, leaving unresolved questions about where public policy ends and private benefit begins.
Disclaimer: This document is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed in this document are not, and should not be taken as, investment advice or recommendations. Recipients should do their own due diligence, taking into account their specific financial circumstances, investment objectives and risk tolerance, which are not considered here, before investing. This document is not an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any of the assets mentioned.