Trump Announces Key Tech Appointments: Crypto Council and AI Leadership Take Center Stage

Donald Trump Taps Bo Hines for Top Role in Presidential Crypto Council

Trump named Sriram Krishnan as a senior policy advisor for AI at the White House. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Bo Hines as executive director of the newly established Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, also known as the "Crypto Council." In this capacity, Hines will work alongside David Sacks, the newly appointed "crypto an AI czar," to promote innovation and development in emerging industries. A New Focus on Digital Assets and AI The Crypto Council and an AI-focused advisory body are among the first major initiatives under the incoming administration to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies. The council's mission will be to foster innovation while ensuring the crypto industry has the resources and regulatory support to succeed. Trump has emphasized that the U.S. should be a global leader in technological advancement, and these new councils are central to that vision. In a statement, Trump highlighted that Hines would work with Sacks to "create an environment where the crypto industry can flourish" and help establish the sector as a cornerstone of the nation's technological infrastructure. This initiative is seen as a response to years of regulatory confusion and missed opportunities under the previous administration. In addition to the Crypto Council, Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for AI at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan will work alongside Sacks to establish a regulatory framework for the AI industry, helping to shape policy across various government departments. Bo Hines Bo Hines, who has been tapped to lead the Crypto Council, is relatively new to the political scene. A former college football player, Hines made his first bid for public office in 2022, running for a U.S. House seat in North Carolina. Despite securing Trump's endorsement, Hines lost to Democrat Wiley Nickel. Though his political career is still in its early stages, Hines has gained backing from a variety of sources, including the pro-crypto PAC American Dream Federal Action Super and the now-jailed former CEO of FTX, Ryan Salame. His selection for the position signals Trump's intent to appeal to younger, tech-savvy voters, particularly those within the crypto space. While Hines has not made any public statements outlining his specific stance on cryptocurrency, his appointment underscores the administration's commitment to positioning the U.S. as a leader in the digital asset market. With his relative inexperience, Hines brings a fresh perspective, and his role in the council will be crucial as the U.S. navigates the future of digital currencies and blockchain technology.

Trump announces slate of tech appointments, 'crypto council'

President-elect Trump announced a slate of tech appointments in posts on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. "I am pleased to announce the brilliant Team that will be working in conjunction with our White House A.I. & Crypto Czar, David O. Sacks," Trump said on Truth Social. "Together, we will unleash scientific breakthroughs, ensure America's technological dominance, and usher in a Golden Age of American Innovation!" In his posts, the president-elect said that his pick for White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) director is Michael Kratsios and his pick for the President's Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST) executive director and OSTP director's counselor is Lynne Parker. Kratsios spent time in the previous Trump administration as the president-elect's chief technology officer. He was also tapped to be the acting undersecretary of Defense for research and engineering during the president-elect's last time in the White House. According to a biography on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's website, Parker serves as the school's associate vice chancellor. The biography also states that as a part of the OSTP between 2018 and 2022, Parker headed up national policy efforts focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in various roles including U.S. deputy chief technology officer. Trump also said the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets or "the 'Crypto Council,'" which he described as "a new advisory group composed of luminaries from the Crypto industry" will have an executive director in Bo Hines. Hines is a former college football player and former GOP House candidate that lost a race to Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) in 2022. Trump also said on Truth Social Sunday that his pick for OSTP senior policy advisor is Sriram Krishnan, adding that he "will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in A.I." According to his website, Krishnan is "an engineer and investor," who was at investor Andreessen Horowitz as a general partner. He describes himself as centering his "time these days on working with entrepreneurs and with governments on AI."