Trump-Linked Attorneys Form Firm to Shape Crypto and AI Policy

EXCLUSIVE — A team of seasoned legal experts connected to the President Donald Trump 'past legal battles have established a company situated merely footsteps away from the White House To take advantage of the increasing demand for influence in Washington’s rapidly expanding fields of cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence.

This week saw the launch of NexusOne Consulting, a lobbying company established by attorney Jeff Ifrah and ex-Trump lawyer Jim Trusty. The new venture aims to assist burgeoning technology firms in maneuvering through and influencing an swiftly changing regulatory environment.

"NexusOne was introduced to provide a place for the cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and other advancing technology sectors," stated Trusty, who is a principal at the consultancy firm. one of Trump’s previous legal representatives At Ifrah Law, which represented Trump during the initial stages of his federal criminal cases in 2023, he stated.

The company’s debut coincides with lobbyists associated with the Trump administration being actively involved. high demand .

Following Trump's comeback to the White House, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence firms have significantly increased their political contributions and grown their presence in Washington considerably.

Firms like Kraken, Uniswap, Jump Trading, and Riot Platforms are hiring ex-administration officials and Capitol Hill staff members to gain leverage in shaping a supportive regulatory landscape. according to Bloomberg.

Technology is advancing faster than policies can keep up with, which presents both possibilities and perils," remarked Ifrah, whose law firm, Ifrah PLLC, has traditionally served technology sector clients. He added, "This could be a once-every-25-years chance to define the direction of tech policy. Our aim is to ensure that creators aren't merely responding to regulations but also playing an active role in shaping them.

NexusOne states its intention to assist clients by concentrating heavily on the executive branch. Initially, their lobbying efforts will target areas like the Commerce Department, the White House offices overseeing cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, and digital policy specialists within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Additionally, they plan to strategically interact with organizations such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"We have a group of people we typically rely on for Capitol Hill lobbying, but that isn’t our main priority at NexusOne," Ifrah stated, highlighting the company’s emphasis on engaging with the executive branch instead.

The company's executive board also features Ross Branson, who previously served as a high-ranking official at the Commerce Department under President Trump during his initial term.

The advisory board includes well-known conservative and Trump-affiliated individuals such as former Republican Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin, ex-Reagan administration Education Secretary William Bennett, and Wall Street investor Andrew Graves, who is a significant donor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital via his platform Curetivity.

Ifrah spoke to the Washington Examiner about several of NexusOne’s upcoming policy objectives, most of which align with goals previously stated by Trump within the realm of Big Tech industries.

Regarding cryptocurrency, NexusOne intends to promote the establishment of a federal strategic digital asset reserve, expanding on initiatives that have already begun. underway in states like Texas.

Ifrah mentioned there is a focus on setting up the strategic reserve and examining stablecoins — understanding their functionality and identifying key participants,” noting that progress in these sectors might occur before the year ends.

Regarding artificial intelligence, NexusOne intends to advocate for new procedures to remove AI-generated content, akin to the notice-and-takedown framework outlined in Section 230 for online platforms. Additionally, they aim to implement enhanced transparency requirements for consumers regarding the utilization of AI in digital interactions.

'It’s primarily about data privacy,' Ifrah stated, further noting, 'Such legislation might be temporary... In my view, this could change by the end of the year.'

The political lobbying efforts for Big Tech policies reached a peak during the 2024 elections, as the cryptocurrency sector invested more than $133 million into the electoral process and had an impact on almost 100 different contests. according To the crypto watchdog website FollowtheCrypto.org.

One of the most extensive technology programs unveiled during Trump's second term was the Stargate project A comprehensive $500 billion initiative from the private sector is set to bolster U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. Supported by companies like OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and more, Stargate aims to develop extensive AI supercomputing facilities to challenge China’s swiftly growing technological industry head-on.

Trump has portrayed the initiative as vital for national security, emphasizing that maintaining American dominance in AI is essential to stop China from surpassing the U.S. in both technological and military advancements.

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Trusty expressed his belief that the company is strategically positioned, with its current portfolio and close geographical location to the White House, to encourage the Trump administration to adopt crypto and artificial intelligence more strongly as matters of national interest.

"Perfectly situated to assist both the Executive Branch and private sector in comprehending and valuing each other’s functions and capabilities in shaping the emerging economy," stated Trusty.

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