Donald Trump, US President-elect, interviewed Paul Atkins for the position of Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Multiple reports say Atkins is currently the leading candidate for the role, increasing his chances in the prediction market.
Previously, Atkins served as Chairman of the SEC and after completing his term, he pursued supporting the development of Cryptocurrencies in the private sector.
Paul Atkins: New SEC Chairman?
According to one report from Bloomberg, Trump is considering Atkins as a top candidate for the role. Since 2020, Atkins has been a member of the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s advisory council. He is known to be a strong advocate for the development and investment in blockchain technology.
If selected, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler at the end of January when Trump takes office. The current SEC Chairman announced his intention to resign earlier this month, while defending his pessimistic view on the Cryptocurrency market.
“Atkins not only understands Cryptocurrency but also understands the inner workings of this agency, having served as a commissioner and employee of the SEC. Atkins is seen as capable of implementing a pro-innovation agenda while restoring standards that many feel were forgotten under Gensler,” Fox Business correspondent Eleanor Terrett declare.
Donald Trump has pledged to support Cryptocurrencies through a major appointment and reform plan in his incoming administration. Although Trump intends to transition most of the SEC’s control over Cryptocurrencies to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the SEC remains an important part of regulating the Cryptocurrency market. In this role, Atkins could be of great benefit to the industry.
Terrett asserts that Atkins is currently the most likely candidate for the position, but that has not been determined. Several other candidates, including those with SEC experience, are also being considered. For example, “Crypto Mom” Hester Peirce is also a possible candidate, and is currently an SEC Commissioner under Gensler.
If nothing else, these rumors have proven to be well-founded in the past. As TinTucBitcoin previously reported, Trump also appointed pro-Cryptocurrency candidate Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury. If this information is accurate, Paul Atkins will lead a much friendlier SEC than under Gensler.
Overall, it is now very likely that the US will have a Crypto advocate at the helm of the SEC, and regulatory oversight of the industry will likely ease.