Paul Atkins Confirmed as SEC Chairman: Crypto Market Expects Changes
Date: 2025-04-11 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: BUSINESS
The US Senate has confirmed the candidacy of Paul Atkins as the chairman of the SEC: 52 senators supported him, 44 opposed him, and four abstained. Atkins had previously served on the Commission and was also involved in consulting in the field of fintech and digital assets in the capital.
The initiative for his appointment came from President Donald Trump, who nominated Atkins in December 2024. After the departure of the previous chairman, Gary Gensler, Mark Ueda took over the duties on an interim basis, making significant changes to the department’s course regarding the cryptocurrency industry.
During Ueda’s interim leadership, the SEC reconsidered its attitude to crypto assets, reducing the number of lawsuits against companies in this area. Moreover, a list of asset categories that are not subject to the Commission's jurisdiction was designated. It included some stablecoins, meme tokens, and coins that operate on the Proof-of-Work algorithm. Ueda also initiated a review of the regulator's old decisions on cryptocurrencies with the aim of canceling or adjusting them in accordance with the SEC's current tasks.
Now, with the arrival of Atkins, the SEC is expected to take a more transparent and consistent approach to regulating the cryptocurrency sector. According to experts, his experience and views can contribute to the development of clear standards for market participants and the elimination of legal uncertainty that has long hindered the development of the industry in the United States.
It is noteworthy that before Atkins took office, the SEC had already taken an important step - it publicly stated that it did not consider stablecoins to be securities. This statement was significant for the crypto market, as it provided a clearer understanding of how federal securities laws relate to digital assets.
The new SEC leadership is expected to focus on developing flexible and predictable regulation that can support innovation while protecting investors.
