The great leadership shift afoot at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has the crypto world on edge. Reports in anticipation say, President-elect Donald Trump would announce his new SEC Chair as early as tomorrow. Among the many names in the mix, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins has emerged as a forerunner thanks to his pro-innovation stance on digital assets and blockchain.
The announcement will mean a new regulatory direction as current SEC Chair Gary Gensler prepares to step down in January 2025.
Paul Atkins: A Pro-Crypto Favorite
Paul Atkins is leading the betting odds with a 70 percent chance of taking that seat. The odds, according to Kalshi prediction markets, are in his favour after talks with the Trump transition team. He’s also a well-known pro-innovation advocate for fintech and crypto.
Atkins also gained much notoriety for challenging the “regulation-by-enforcement” approach with Gensler. His goal has been to set a regulatory environment where oversight and innovation can coexist with a more crypto-friendly regime.
If appointed, analysts believe Atkins would likely burn the candle at both ends and clear up rules on digital assets – the opposite of what Gensler has done through enforcement heavy policies. That would be a big shift for the agency on crypto.
Other contenders include Brian Brooks, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency, with a 20% chance, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, Robinhood’s legal head Dan Gallagher, ex-CFTC Chair Heath Tarbert, etc.
Gensler’s Legacy: A Mixed Record
As Gary Gensler’s term comes to an end, his legacy will be felt for a long time. Gensler has been SEC Chair since April 2021 and adopted a very stringent regulatory stance.
Under his leadership, the SEC launched several high profile enforcement actions against crypto exchanges and intermediaries for fraud and registration violations. Those were part of a broader effort to bring clarity and accountability to the space.
Despite being criticized for his tough stance, the SEC under Gensler also approved spot and futures Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) providing greater market access to digital assets.
What This Means for Crypto
A new SEC Chair will change the direction of cryptocurrency regulation in the US. It’s expected that the appointment of Atkins will mean a more friendly oversight – one that will encourage innovation while protecting investors.
A change of guard will also impact pending regulatory debates such as the classification of digital assets and more clarity on rules for crypto companies. This will finally give life to the US crypto space which has been long overdue for some consistency.
Ahead of the announcement, the crypto community is optimistic of a more pragmatic regulatory regime.
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