Source: Cointelegraph Original: "{title}"
Last Wednesday (April 9), Paul Atkins was officially approved to serve as the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with a Senate vote of 51 in favor and 45 against.
President Trump nominated Atkins to lead the SEC last December, and there are widespread expectations that he will adopt a more favorable policy stance towards cryptocurrencies.
Atkins is no stranger to either traditional finance or the digital world. He was appointed as an SEC commissioner by former President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2008. After his term ended, he founded the financial consulting firm Patomak Global Partners in 2009, focusing on regulatory compliance and risk management. This experience helped him deepen his understanding of the dynamic relationship between regulatory agencies and financial institutions.
From 2017 to the end of 2024, Atkins also served as co-chair of the Token Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting an ecosystem conducive to the development of blockchain and digital assets. This direct connection to the crypto industry is one of the important backgrounds for his appointment as SEC chairman.
At last week's hearing, Atkins clearly stated that one of his priority tasks will be to "provide a solid regulatory foundation for digital assets through a rational, consistent, and principle-based approach." This statement is in stark contrast to former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, who conducted investigations and lawsuits against several crypto industry companies during his tenure, accusing them of violating securities laws, leading to increasing regulatory uncertainty in the crypto space under his management.
From Gensler's departure in January until Atkins' formal appointment last week, the SEC was led by Mark Uyeda as acting chairman. With Atkins' appointment, the market generally expects a significant shift in regulatory direction.
Currently, the Trump administration has established a Crypto Task Force to enhance communication with the industry and has halted several investigations into cryptocurrency companies. Additionally, the SEC recently issued guidance on memecoins, stating that they do not fall under securities but are similar to collectibles, and therefore do not need to comply with securities regulations.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott expressed full confidence in Atkins on the day of his appointment, believing he can inject new vitality into the SEC's digital strategy. Scott noted, "Atkins will provide clear regulatory direction for digital assets, helping American innovation thrive and maintaining our competitiveness globally."
Senator Cynthia Lummis also emphasized that Atkins' role is crucial in promoting the development of blockchain and emerging technologies in the U.S., especially in her home state of Wyoming.
According to a disclosure in March this year, Atkins and his wife hold total assets between $327 million and $588.8 million. Approximately $6 million of his portfolio is related to crypto assets. Atkins holds about $1 million in equity in two crypto companies and has invested another $5 million in a crypto asset investment fund.
As of February this year, he also held subscription options worth up to $500,000 in Securitize, a tokenized company under BlackRock, and had served as a board member of that company. Additionally, he holds a similar amount of equity in the crypto financial platform Anchorage Digital. Furthermore, Atkins is a limited partner in the crypto fund Off the Chain Capital, with an investment amount of up to $5 million.
It is reported that Atkins has agreed to sell the aforementioned holdings after being confirmed as SEC chairman.
The crypto industry has long suffered from uncertainty and regulatory fragmentation, and the market has great attention and hope for Atkins' appointment. The U.S.'s global leadership in digital finance is likely to depend on the actions and reforms taken after Atkins takes office.
In addition to establishing a clearer regulatory framework for crypto companies, Atkins must also implement the "streamlining government" approach proposed by the Trump administration. This means he will lead the reduction of a significant number of SEC employees. The SEC currently has about 5,000 employees, with approximately 10% likely to be asked to leave in the near future.
If Atkins' reform agenda proceeds smoothly, he may lead the SEC into a new phase: enhancing regulatory transparency, encouraging financial innovation, and promoting market growth while reducing the size and operational costs of the agency.
Related: The U.S. Senate passes a vote to officially approve Paul Atkins as Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump’s leadership.
免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。
