Trump Appoints Jay Clayton AI Czar Amid Cryptocurrency Enforcement Scrutiny
President Donald Trump is reportedly set to appoint Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as his artificial intelligence (AI) czar, while retaining his current role. The new position will have responsibilities in AI policy, but cryptocurrency policy will remain with White House adviser Patrick Witt.
The move has brought attention back to Clayton's record at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he oversaw the establishment of the Cyber Unit in 2017. This unit focused on digital assets, cryptocurrency violations, and cyber-related misconduct.
By the end of 2020, the SEC had brought 57 cases involving initial coin offerings (ICOs), blockchain technology, or digital assets, including alleged investor fraud and securities-registration violations.