Paul Atkins Sworn In as SEC Chair, Signaling Crypto-Friendly Turn

Paul Atkins was confirmed by the Senate on April 9, 2025 and sworn in as SEC chairman on April 21, replacing Gary Gensler, who had pursued aggressive enforcement against crypto exchanges and token issuers. Atkins, a former SEC commissioner under George W. Bush, has spent years advising financial firms and crypto companies seeking lighter regulatory treatment.

His confirmation was celebrated across crypto markets, with industry figures predicting a rollback of enforcement actions the Gensler-era SEC had brought against exchanges and lending platforms on the theory that many tokens functioned as unregistered securities.

The leadership change reflected the Trump administration's broader deregulatory approach to digital assets, following the DOJ's disbanding of its crypto enforcement team days earlier. Critics warned the shift risked turning the SEC from a watchdog into an accommodating partner for an industry that has also become a significant source of Trump family income.