Key dealers
- Paul Atkins has been responded as the 34th chairman of Sec by President Trump.
- Atkins provides significant experience in digital assets and financial markets to Sec.
Paul Atkins, president Trump’s appointed To be chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, was formally responded to the office on April 21. A recognized supporter of crypto and financial innovation, Atkins takes on the role of Sec’s 34th chairman, as confirmed by the agency.
“I am honored by confidence and the president of trust Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead Sec,” Atkins said in a statement. “When I return to Sec, I am happy to go with my colleagues and the agency’s dedicated professionals to promote their mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain justice, arranged and efficient markets; and protect investors.”
Atkins earlier pledged to establish clear regulatory guidelines for digital assets if confirmed. In the Senate’s testimony last month, he said he would prioritize a “rational, coherent and principled” framework to promote innovation and reduce market uncertainty.
The SEC chairman also stated that ambiguous rules prevent growth and promised to focus on investors’ protection, depolitic regulation and ensure smart, effective monitoring.
Prior to his appointment, Atkins served as CEO of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009, where he helped develop the best practice for the digital asset sector. He also served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of Bats Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015.
Atkins previously served as a Sec-Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush, who advocated for openness, consistency and cost benefit analysis. He represented Sec at the president’s working group in the financial markets and the Transatlantic Economic Council in the US-EU.
From 1990 to 1994, Atkins worked on the staff at the SEC chairman Richard Breeden and Arthur Levitt as chief of staff and advisors. He began his career as a lawyer in New York and focused on business transactions including securities offers and mergers and acquisitions.
What one might expect from Sec under Atkins
During Atkins Sec is ready to Continue his shift from the aggressive enforcement style established under former chairman Gary Gensler to a more measured, business -friendly strategy.
Building a clear set of rules for digital assets will be one of the agency’s most important priorities. In the months up to Atkins’ confirmationActing Chairman Mark Uyeda had already begun to withdraw some regulations and release several moods against crypto companies.
Atkins has made it clear that he wants politics to be kept away from securities laws, focusing on protecting investors from fraud. All signs point to a sec under Atkins that aims to protect investors through smarter, more targeted enforcement while encouraging innovation in the financial markets.
Crypto enthusiasts are optimistic as, under Atkin’s leadership, SEC will move faster when it comes to approving crypto-related ETFs.
At present, 72 such ETFs are waiting – linked to assets from XRP, Litecoin and Solana to more unconventional offers such as Penguins and Melania – for regulation decisions, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas.
There are now 72 crypto -related ETFs who are sitting with SEC waiting for approval to list or list options. Everything from XRP, Litecoin and Solana to penguins, Dogge and 2x Melania and everything in between. Will be a wild year. Good Roundup from @Jseyff pic.twitter.com/ihtQQXEH35
– Eric Balchunas (@ericbalchunas) April 21, 2025
