AI Firm Anthropic's Regulatory Push Echoes Sam Bankman-Fried's Crypto Lobbying Playbook

The artificial intelligence company Anthropic is advocating for government regulation of AI in a manner that draws parallels to the strategies employed by Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, according to a review of public records. Both Anthropic and Bankman-Fried invested heavily in influence campaigns in Washington while publicly arguing for the necessity of government rules to enhance safety within their respective industries.

Critics have accused both entities of using regulatory efforts to solidify their competitive advantages. Bankman-Fried's political activities later became central to a criminal case involving illegal campaign contributions, whereas Anthropic's spending has primarily involved disclosed lobbying and advocacy initiatives. Bankman-Fried himself admitted that his public stance on regulation was largely a public relations effort following FTX's collapse.

Anthropic, the creator of the Claude chatbot, has been actively engaging with policymakers, warning of the potential national security and public safety risks posed by rapidly advancing AI models. CEO Dario Amodei has called for mandatory testing and auditing of sophisticated AI systems. The company has dedicated millions to lobbying efforts and supported organizations that advocate for stricter AI regulations. This push aligns with the Trump administration's focus on AI development and maintaining U.S. leadership in the technology. On September 29, Amodei joined other tech executives at the White House to sign a voluntary agreement outlining safety standards for AI development.

Previously, Bankman-Fried advocated for a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency, to be overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, asserting it was crucial for customer protection and industry clarity. He was a proponent of the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act, which would have established such a system, and campaign finance records indicated he contributed to its sponsors in the Senate. However, some in the crypto community opposed the DCCPA, arguing it unfairly favored centralized exchanges like FTX. Prosecutors later alleged that Bankman-Fried and associates made tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to increase FTX's influence in Washington and promote favorable legislation.

Bankman-Fried cited public safety as a justification for his lobbying, using rhetoric similar to that of Anthropic. He stated on social media weeks before FTX's collapse, "We need regulatory oversight and customer protection," and testified before Congress that crypto regulation should ensure "system safety and soundness."

Brian Chau, founder of Effort News, an AI-assisted investigative publication, has drawn comparisons between Anthropic's current public messaging and Bankman-Fried's statements as FTX began to unravel. "I remember when FTX was going down SBF would make up a new cope narrative every week and all the FTX stans would instantly believe him," Chau wrote on X, referencing an article about an unreleased Anthropic model.

Anthropic's lobbying activities, which have involved close to $7 million in disclosed spending from 2025 through mid-2026, and an additional $40 million allocated to Public First Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, have drawn criticism. David Sacks, a former Trump administration AI advisor, commented on X in October 2025, calling Anthropic's strategy "sophisticated regulatory capture" and blaming it for a "regulatory frenzy that is damaging the startup ecosystem."

Similar to arguments that Bankman-Fried's preferred legislation would have disadvantaged smaller competitors, Anthropic has been accused of supporting measures, such as California's SB 53, that could harm less established AI laboratories. Anthropic maintains that its commitment to safety is genuine and disputes claims that its legislative actions disadvantage smaller competitors. Amodei wrote in October 2025 that startups are among their most important customers and noted that SB 53 includes exemptions for companies with gross revenues below $500 million. However, even firms below this threshold using significant computational resources remain subject to certain transparency requirements under the bill.

Anthropic and representatives for Bankman-Fried did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.