David Sacks, who was dubbed the “crypto czar” in the Donald Trump administration, said that hundreds of groups promoting the idea that artificial intelligence could lead to humanity’s extinction, while presenting themselves as grassroots initiatives, received funding from three billionaires in the effective altruism movement.
Sacks referred to an investigation by Nirit Weiss-Blatt. In January 2025, she published a post on her AI Panic blog that compiled a map of organizations promoting the idea of AI as an existential risk. According to her data, these groups received more than $1B in funding from a small circle of donors who support effective altruism — a movement that directs large donations toward reducing risks that could endanger humanity’s future.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin was among the sponsors named in the report. The “crypto czar” singled out his contribution as funding behind campaigns that fuel fear of the technology. According to Sacks, Buterin gave $600M in DOGE to the Future of Life Foundation, after which the foundation directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward campaigns aimed at making the public fear AI.
Weiss-Blatt’s report also includes Dustin Moskovitz, Jaan Tallinn, and Sam Bankman-Fried among this group of donors. She identifies Moskovitz’s Open Philanthropy, later renamed Coefficient Giving, as the largest donor to most of these organizations.
“The effect of these donations has already shaped public perceptions of AI,” Sacks said.
He noted that campaigns stoking fear of AI are hitting data centers as an appropriate target.
He also commented on potential future investments in propaganda aimed at discrediting AI. He said Anthropic’s IPO, in his estimation, would create around 100 new EA billionaires. When these people enter politics, he argued, their influence could be comparable to George Soros times 100 or even 1,000.
“It will be insane,” Sacks concluded.