You are here: Home / News / David Sacks Forfeits $1B Crypto Gains Over the Next Four Years

March 9, 2025 by Bena Ilyas
- David Sacks forfeits $1 billion in crypto gains over four years, selling $85M in assets before taking office.
- Sacks liquidated $85M in assets and sold $200M in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
- The U.S. lost $17B from Bitcoin sales, but Sacks’ policies may push BTC to new all-time highs by 2028.
Controversy has erupted over the announcement of a Crypto Strategic Reserve, with critics targeting crypto czar David Sacks over allegations of unjust enrichment. Cameron Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, defended Sacks, emphasizing that he is forfeiting substantial gains to avoid conflicts of interest while shaping crypto policy in the U.S.
Sacks Divests Holdings to Avoid Conflict of Interest
David Sacks confirmed he sold all cryptocurrency holdings to eliminate bias concerns. Winklevoss estimated Sacks’ decision would cost him $1 billion in potential gains over four years. Before assuming office, he liquidated $85 million in assets and divested $200 million in crypto, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Sacks confirmed withdrawing from major funds like Bitwise, Multicoin Capital, and Blockchain Capital, incurring significant losses. Fund manager Jason Calacanis revealed Sacks sold interests at steep discounts, up to 50%, potentially losing hundreds of millions.
Jason Calacanis, a fund manager involved in the sales, noted that Sacks had to sell his fund interests at significant discounts, potentially incurring nine-figure losses. Despite the financial setback, Sacks maintained that ethical considerations required him to step away from all direct and indirect crypto holdings.
Trump’s Crypto Strategy and Federal Bitcoin Sales
Sacks shared a Federal Bitcoin Sales Analysis that Elon Musk-backed Grok AI-generated, hinting at a potential US crypto reserve under President Trump. This aligns with historical government actions, as US agencies have been seizing Bitcoin since 2013. The FBI’s first recorded seizure involved 11 BTC from an illegal drug purchase attempt.
Over the years, federal agencies have confiscated approximately 195,000 BTC, selling 173,000 BTC in major liquidation events between 2013 and 2015. Sacks noted that these premature sales resulted in an estimated $17 billion loss for the government, highlighting the need for a long-term strategic reserve.
Since his appointment, Sacks has played a pivotal role in shaping US policies. He led efforts to establish the White House Crypto Summit, setting the foundation for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the US Digital Asset Stockpile. These initiatives aim to position the US as dominant in the evolving digital currency ecosystem.
Sacks remains resolute in defending his divestment decisions. He dismissed claims of financial motivation, stating that wealthy individuals in government are often unfairly accused of seeking personal gain. “This role disrupts my business interests significantly,” he remarked. His actions are expected to bolster institutional adoption, potentially driving Bitcoin prices to all-time highs by the end of Trump’s tenure.
Read More: 4 Top New Meme Coins to Join for 2025- Unlock Exclusive P2E Rewards & Crypto Gains!