Trump Taps Former SEC Chief for AI Czar Role Amid Crypto Enforcement Record

President Trump is expected to appoint Jay Clayton as his artificial intelligence czar. This new role will add to Clayton's existing position as Director of National Intelligence, which he has held since August 2026.

The move comes after Clayton was previously the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he oversaw the establishment of the agency's Cyber Unit in 2017. The unit focused on digital assets, cryptocurrency violations, and cyber-related misconduct.

During his tenure at the SEC, Clayton was involved in several high-profile cases involving initial coin offerings (ICOs) and blockchain technology. By the end of 2020, the SEC had brought 57 cases related to these issues, including alleged investor fraud and securities-registration violations.