Crypto-friendly Paul Atkins sworn in as 34th U.S. SEC Chairman

Paul S. Atkins was sworn in on April 21, 2025, as the 34th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and confirmed by the Senate on April 9, 2025.

Atkins brings extensive experience in financial markets and digital assets to his role. He previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush and has been a strong advocate for transparency, consistency, and cost-benefit analysis in regulation.

Before returning to the SEC, he was CEO of Patomak Global Partners, a regulatory consulting firm, where he helped develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He also served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of BATS Global Markets from 2012 to 2015.

Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins has pledged to establish clear, rational, and principled regulatory guidelines for digital assets to foster innovation and reduce market uncertainty. He has emphasized the need for investor protection, depoliticizing regulation, and smart oversight. His leadership is expected to usher in a more crypto-friendly SEC compared to the previous administration under Gary Gensler.

Atkins holds significant personal investments in digital assets, with disclosures indicating between $1 million and $6 million in cryptocurrencies, including stakes in crypto custody and blockchain tokenization platforms. He has agreed to divest some holdings upon assuming office to avoid conflicts of interest.

His confirmation was supported by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, who highlighted Atkins' experience and his potential to roll back prior policies, promote capital formation, and provide regulatory clarity for digital assets, thereby enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the global market.

This appointment marks a shift toward clearer, more innovation-friendly SEC policies on cryptocurrencies and digital assets, with a focus on balancing market growth and investor protection.

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