New SEC chair Paul Atkins sworn into office

Paul Atkins, President Trump’s appointee to chair the US Securities and Exchange Commission, was formally sworn into office on April 21. A recognized supporter of crypto and financial innovation, Atkins assumes the role of the SEC’s 34th chairman, as confirmed by the agency.

“I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC,” Atkins said in a statement. “As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors.”

Atkins previously pledged to establish clear regulatory guidelines for digital assets if confirmed. In Senate testimony last month, he said he would prioritize a “rational, coherent, and principled” framework to foster innovation and reduce market uncertainty.

The SEC Chair also stated that ambiguous rules hinder growth and promised to focus on investor protection, depoliticizing regulation, and ensuring smart, effective oversight.

Prior to his appointment, Atkins served as chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009, 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, Inc. from 2012 to 2015.

Atkins previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush, advocating for transparency, consistency, and cost-benefit analysis. He represented the SEC at the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the US-EU Transatlantic Economic Council.

From 1990 to 1994, Atkins worked on the staff of SEC Chairmen Richard Breeden and Arthur Levitt as chief of staff and counselor. He began his career as a lawyer in New York, focusing on corporate transactions including securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

What to expect from the SEC under Atkins

Under Atkins, the SEC is poised to continue its shift from the aggressive enforcement style established under former Chairman Gary Gensler to a more measured, business-friendly approach.

Building a clear set of rules for digital assets will be one of the agency’s key priorities. In the months leading up to Atkins’ confirmation, Acting Chair Mark Uyeda had already started pulling back some regulations and dropping several lawsuits against crypto firms.

Atkins has made it clear he wants politics kept out of securities law enforcement, with a focus on protecting investors from fraud. All signs point to an SEC under Atkins that aims to protect investors through smarter, more targeted enforcement while encouraging innovation across financial markets.

Crypto enthusiasts are optimistic that, under Atkins’ leadership, the SEC will move more swiftly in approving crypto-related ETFs.

Currently, 72 such ETFs — linked to assets ranging from XRP, Litecoin, and Solana to more unconventional offerings such as Penguins and Melania — are awaiting regulatory decisions, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas.

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