Donald Trump has appointed Bo Hines, a former college football player and Republican congressional candidate, as the Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. This new council, part of Trump’s strategy to foster innovation in the crypto space, will be led by David Sacks, the appointed AI and crypto czar. Trump announced the appointment on Dec. 22 through his Truth Social platform, stating that Hines will work with Sacks to promote growth in the digital assets sector and ensure that industry leaders have the resources they need to succeed.

Hines, who lost his 2022 bid for North Carolina’s 13th District to Democrat Wiley Nickel, ran for the state’s 6th District in 2024 but could not secure the Republican nomination. He came in fourth place with 14.4% of the vote. Throughout his political campaigns, Hines received support from pro-crypto PACs, including donations from Ryan Salame, a former executive at the collapsed FTX exchange. Salame, convicted of campaign finance violations, made significant contributions to several Republican candidates, including Hines.

Despite his limited public involvement with cryptocurrency, Hines’ appointment is seen as part of Trump’s broader push to make the U.S. a global leader in digital assets. In his post, Trump emphasized that Hines will work closely with Sacks to create an environment where the digital assets industry can thrive, positioning it as a cornerstone of the nation’s technological advancement.

This appointment follows Trump’s other pro-crypto initiatives, including his choice of Paul Atkins, a former SEC Commissioner, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins, a known supporter of the crypto industry, is expected to take a more lenient approach to regulation, a stance that contrasts with the current SEC Chairman, Gary Gensler, who has faced criticism for his aggressive regulatory actions against the crypto sector.

In addition to Hines, Trump named Sriram Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan, who recently departed from the prominent venture capital firm, will also work closely with Sacks to shape the administration’s policies on AI and technology. These appointments signal Trump’s continued support for the digital assets and AI sectors, areas he sees as critical to the U.S.’s technological future.

Hines’ role will be central to the new crypto council’s work, which aims to bring together industry leaders to support the development and regulation of digital assets. While Hines’ background is not heavily focused on cryptocurrency, his appointment marks a significant step in Trump’s efforts to boost the sector.