Key takeaways
- David Sacks stepped down as White House AI and crypto czar after reaching the 130-day limit for special government employees and will co-chair PCAST.
- The CLARITY Act, the administration’s flagship crypto market structure bill, remains stalled in the Senate with no replacement czar named.
- PCAST’s 13-member roster includes at least three crypto-aligned voices: Sacks, Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, and a16z’s Marc Andreessen.
- Sacks did not mention cryptocurrency when outlining PCAST priorities, focusing instead on AI, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.
Published: March 27, 2026 05:00 UTC
David Sacks, the venture capitalist and podcast host who served as the White House’s first AI and crypto czar, confirmed on March 26 that his time in the role is over. He will now co-chair the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) alongside senior White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios.
Sacks hit the 130-day cap that federal law places on special government employees. Democrats in Congress had raised concerns that he had already exceeded that limit during fall 2025. The PCAST appointment sidesteps the constraint entirely, keeping Sacks inside the administration’s orbit without the same clock.
What Sacks accomplished in 130 days
The czar role was created before Trump’s second inauguration as a signal that the administration would treat crypto regulation as a top priority. During his tenure, Sacks pushed for clearer digital asset rules, championed a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and helped shepherd the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin-focused bill, through Congress. The stablecoin push coincided with industry moves toward greater transparency, including Tether’s decision to hire a Big Four firm for its first full audit. He also coordinated the joint SEC-CFTC interpretation that classified 16 crypto assets as digital commodities on March 17.
What he did not finish is the bigger story. The CLARITY Act, which would create a permanent regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the SEC and the CFTC, passed the House in July 2025 with a 294-134 vote but has not reached the Senate floor. Prediction markets put the odds of full passage in 2026 at just 18%.
PCAST loads up on crypto-connected advisers
The 13-member PCAST roster announced on March 25 reads like a Silicon Valley power list: Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Sergey Brin (Google), Lisa Su (AMD), Larry Ellison (Oracle), Michael Dell, and Safra Catz (Oracle). The council can hold up to 24 members, leaving room for 11 more appointments.
For the crypto industry, the names that matter most are Fred Ehrsam and Marc Andreessen. Ehrsam co-founded Coinbase and later started Paradigm, one of the largest crypto-focused venture firms. Andreessen’s firm, a16z, contributed nearly $12 million personally and $23.8 million through its management company to support the CLARITY Act’s passage. Combined with Sacks as co-chair, the crypto sector now has at least three advocates on a panel originally designed to advise on science policy.
That representation matters because the CLARITY Act’s stablecoin yield provision has split the industry in two. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support in January 2026, arguing the yield ban was “materially worse than the current status quo.” Circle shares dropped 20% and Coinbase fell 10% after the latest draft language emerged. Andreessen and Ehrsam, whose diversified venture portfolios benefit more from broad regulatory clarity than from stablecoin yield revenue, backed the bill anyway.
What happens to crypto policy now
No replacement crypto czar has been named. The White House has not indicated whether the position will be filled or whether PCAST will absorb its functions. When Sacks spoke with Bloomberg about PCAST’s priorities on Thursday, he listed AI, quantum computing, and nuclear power. He did not mention cryptocurrency.
The Senate Banking Committee is expected to mark up the CLARITY Act in April. Without a dedicated policy coordinator inside the White House, the bill’s path depends more heavily on congressional negotiations and the industry lobbyists who now sit on PCAST.
For an administration that launched its crypto agenda with a dedicated czar and executive orders, the shift to an advisory committee signals that digital asset policy has moved from urgent priority to one item on a longer technology agenda.
FAQ
Why did David Sacks leave the crypto czar role?
Sacks reached the 130-day service limit that federal law imposes on special government employees. Rather than extend the role, the White House moved him to co-chair PCAST, a federal advisory committee that does not carry the same time restriction.
What is PCAST and why does it matter for crypto?
PCAST is the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a panel of outside experts that makes policy recommendations directly to the president. Its current roster includes crypto-aligned figures like Fred Ehrsam (Coinbase co-founder), Marc Andreessen (a16z), and Sacks himself, giving the industry direct access to White House technology discussions.
What crypto legislation is still pending?
The CLARITY Act, which would establish a federal framework dividing crypto oversight between the SEC and CFTC, passed the House in July 2025 but awaits a Senate floor vote. The bill’s stablecoin yield provision has divided the industry, and the Senate Banking Committee is expected to mark it up in April 2026.
