Jay Clayton, who served as the US Securities and Exchange Commission chairman during the Trump administration, is reportedly set for a return to government as the new head of artificial intelligence policy. Clayton’s possible appointment as the White House’s AI czar would represent a shift in the role’s focus, with crypto no longer at the forefront.
Clayton’s evolving role in tech regulation
As SEC chairman from 2017 to 2020, Clayton was closely involved in regulating emerging technologies and shaping the agency’s initial approach to digital assets. His leadership saw the creation of the SEC’s “Cyber Unit,” designed to monitor the fast-growing blockchain sector and oversee the proliferation of initial coin offerings.
Under his tenure, the SEC launched a series of enforcement actions, including the high-profile case against Ripple Labs. The commission accused Ripple of failing to register approximately $1.3 billion in XRP token sales as securities. SEC data shows that during Clayton’s leadership, 57 enforcement actions targeted digital asset companies, blockchain businesses, and ICOs.
Clayton’s actions established a framework for digital asset enforcement that his successor, Gary Gensler, would later intensify. The crypto industry has repeatedly criticized the “regulation by enforcement” strategy that began under Clayton and expanded under Gensler, a Biden appointee.
A shift to AI without crypto
If confirmed, Clayton would head the administration’s AI Force, tasked with overseeing developments in the rapidly advancing domestic artificial intelligence sector. Unlike David Sacks, the first person to serve in the combined role as crypto and AI czar, Clayton’s position is expected to focus exclusively on AI.
With Sacks departing the White House in March, responsibility for crypto policy has transferred to adviser Patrick Witt. The current scope of the AI czar position does not include digital assets, despite the overlapping influence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
The shift parallels wider developments in the White House’s tech policy. After a period of pronounced skepticism toward cryptocurrencies during Trump’s earlier term, the administration pivoted, moving from strong regulatory comments—such as Trump’s 2021 assertion, “I think they should regulate them very, very high”—to active involvement in the digital asset space. Trump has since endorsed initiatives related to NFTs and self-branded memecoins while staking positions in major industry projects.
Experience in the private sector and new priorities
Prior to his potential AI leadership, Clayton served on the board of Apollo Global Management, directing billions of dollars toward AI and digital infrastructure across the private sector. After a stint as US attorney for the Southern District of New York, he was reappointed to government this year as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
In a recent CNBC interview, Clayton framed AI as a matter of national security and dismissed the idea of pausing technological advancement. He stated,
“I don’t think any American should think that that’s a good strategy,” he remarked, referring to calls for a development pause in artificial intelligence.
Clayton’s regulatory legacy in both finance and tech highlights his experience with emerging industries that often outpace traditional legal frameworks. His previous actions are likely to draw attention as he potentially transitions into a leadership role in overseeing artificial intelligence nationwide.
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