Trump Signals Possible US Investment in OpenAI and Anthropic
US President Donald Trump said the government could potentially invest in OpenAI and Anthropic, following Washington’s agreement to take a 9.9% stake in Intel. Speaking to TIME, Trump praised Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei but defended a lighter-touch approach to AI regulation, saying enforcement should rely mainly on the Justice Department and FBI.
The comments came shortly after a federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk. Anthropic had opposed allowing Claude to be used for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. No investment negotiations have been confirmed, and Trump’s response was limited to: “Maybe I could do that.”
The Intel deal involved approximately $8.9 billion in previously approved government funding converted into shares. Trump’s comments raise the possibility of a similar state-equity model for major AI companies, but Anthropic’s position is different. The company is reportedly targeting a valuation of about $2 trillion and could seek up to $100 billion in an IPO, giving it significantly greater bargaining power.
The development is relevant to crypto traders because government ownership of leading AI firms could affect technology valuations, data-centre demand, semiconductor supply chains and risk appetite across growth markets. However, the lack of a confirmed deal means the immediate market impact is likely limited.
Neutral
The expected market impact is neutral because the report describes a possibility rather than a completed investment. In the short term, traders may react to headlines about potential US government ownership of OpenAI or Anthropic, particularly in AI-related equities, semiconductor stocks and technology-linked crypto assets. The comments could briefly improve sentiment by suggesting stronger government backing for AI infrastructure, but uncertainty over regulation and the Pentagon’s supply-chain-risk designation could offset that effect.
For crypto markets, the connection is indirect. AI investment can support broader risk appetite and increase demand for data centres, chips and energy, which may benefit technology and AI-token narratives. However, there is no confirmed capital flow into digital assets, and the article contains no new cryptocurrency policy or institutional crypto commitment. As a result, Bitcoin and major altcoins are more likely to follow macroeconomic conditions, liquidity and equity-market sentiment than this announcement alone.
Over the longer term, government equity stakes could create a precedent for state participation in strategic technology companies. That may encourage investment in AI infrastructure but also blur the line between regulator and shareholder, increasing policy risk. Similar government-backed interventions in strategic industries have often produced short-term volatility before markets assess the financial terms. Traders should monitor confirmation of any deal, Anthropic’s potential IPO, AI regulation, semiconductor valuations and broader risk sentiment before changing positions.