The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially welcomed Paul Atkins as its new chairman. His appointment follows a 52-44 confirmation vote in the US Senate earlier this month.
Atkins replaces Gary Gensler, who was notorious for his tough stance against cryptocurrencies. During his tenure, Gensler frequently denounced altcoins and closed several crypto-related exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposals.
In his first statement as chairman, Atkins thanked President Trump and the Senate for their trust. He promised to focus on making the US a safe and attractive place for investments and businesses. Importantly, Atkins also pointed out that crypto oversight would be a top priority under his leadership.
Since Gensler’s departure, the SEC has received a wave of crypto ETF applications. Many experts believe Atkins’ decisions on these could reshape the SEC’s approach to digital assets.
The optimism around Atkins goes beyond ETFs. Under the Trump administration, investigations and lawsuits against major crypto firms like Coinbase, Ripple, and Uniswap were closed. These companies, along with others, reportedly donated over $85 million to the President’s inauguration.
With a $2.8 trillion crypto market at stake, investors and policymakers will be paying close attention. Atkins’ market-friendly approach could signal a new chapter for crypto regulation in the US.
