The return of Donald Trump to the White House has set off a wave of policy changes that are reshaping Big Tech, cryptocurrency, and AI development. The regulatory environment is shifting in ways that favor the biggest names in Silicon Valley, including Tesla, Coinbase, and Meta, with Elon Musk emerging as a central figure in these changes.
For years, the tech industry has been at odds with regulators over issues like AI governance, crypto oversight, and antitrust enforcement. Those battles are ending in favor of the industry’s most prominent players. Lawsuits are being dismissed, restrictions are vanishing, and companies that funded Trump’s re-election bid are seeing direct benefits.
These policy shifts are not coincidental — they reflect the deep financial ties between the tech elite and Trump’s campaign. With the SEC scaling back crypto enforcement, the FTC easing pressure on tech giants, and AI safety regulations disappearing, companies that backed Trump are getting precisely what they paid for.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Tech Billionaires Secure Their Interests in Washington
Once divided on their political stances, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook are now aligned in benefiting from the new administration’s policies. Musk invested heavily in Trump’s re-election and has become a key policy influencer. His companies — Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and X — have all been under investigation by federal agencies, but those cases are quietly disappearing.
The Justice Department just dropped its discrimination lawsuit against SpaceX, which accused the company of refusing to hire refugees and asylum seekers. Meanwhile, the SEC has pulled back its lawsuit against Coinbase, which was previously charged with trading unregistered securities.
Musk has also directly shaped government policy, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency focused on cutting regulations and federal spending. The administration’s pro-deregulation stance aligns perfectly with DOGE’s mission, making it easier for tech companies to operate with fewer restrictions.
Crypto Firms Thrive Under a New SEC Approach
The cryptocurrency industry has found an ally in the new administration. Before the election, crypto firms poured millions into political donations, backing Republican candidates who promised deregulation. Now, they are seeing the rewards of their investment.
The SEC has reversed its aggressive stance against major crypto exchanges. The lawsuit against Coinbase — once seen as a significant legal battle over the classification of digital assets — has been quietly shelved.
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, issued a statement celebrating the move:
“This case never should have been filed in the first place. The SEC’s decision confirms what we’ve said all along—crypto deserves clear, fair regulation.”
But consumer protection groups are raising concerns. Advocacy group Public Citizen described the SEC’s shift as “proof that crypto billionaires are now influencing government policy.”
The shift in crypto regulation has also extended to Bitcoin ETFs. Under the new SEC leadership, restrictions on spot Bitcoin trading have been loosened, leading to a surge in institutional investments. Venture capital firms, hedge funds, and retail traders have rushed to capitalize on the changes, pushing Bitcoin prices to record highs.
Deregulation Expands Beyond Crypto to AI and Antitrust
The administration’s push for AI deregulation has been one of its most controversial moves. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — which was tasked with overseeing AI safety—is undergoing a major restructuring, leading to layoffs at the AI Safety Institute (AISI).
The decision to scale back AI oversight has been met with backlash. Alexandra Reeve Givens, CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, warned:
“This isn’t about making the U.S. more competitive in AI. It’s about removing the basic safeguards that protect consumers from biased, unsafe, and misleading AI technologies.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — which previously targeted Big Tech with antitrust lawsuits—is stepping back from enforcement. Cases against Google, Amazon, and Meta are being quietly dismissed or delayed, giving these companies more power to consolidate their hold on digital markets.
The shift in social media regulation is also noticeable. The FTC is now investigating content moderation policies, arguing that tech firms should not have the power to “silence voices unfairly.” This represents a complete reversal from previous enforcement actions, which focused on preventing misinformation and hate speech online.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The new administration’s policies fundamentally change how Big Tech, crypto, and AI operate in the U.S. Deregulation is removing legal barriers that once restricted corporate expansion, leading to major financial gains for companies that supported Trump’s re-election.
This is the most business-friendly administration in decades for tech and crypto firms. But questions remain for consumers. Without AI safety oversight, will new models become more biased and dangerous? Will crypto markets become more volatile without clear regulations?
One thing is clear—the companies that invested in Trump’s political future are now shaping America’s digital policies.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech