Paul Atkins takes over as SEC chair today aiming to usher in new pro-crypto era

Paul Atkins officially took office as the 34th US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman on April 21.

This marks a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 during the George W. Bush administration.

In his return to the SEC, Atkins stated that he was honored by President Donald Trump and the US Senate’s confidence in him. He pledged to uphold the agency’s mission to support capital formation, protect investors, and maintain fair and efficient markets.

He emphasized his commitment to making the US a top destination for global investment and promised to collaborate with other commissioners and SEC professionals to achieve that goal.

Turning point for crypto

Atkins is widely seen as more favorable toward digital assets than his predecessor, Gary Gensler. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Atkins highlighted crypto regulation as one of his key priorities, a stance welcomed by many in the blockchain space.

Atkins’ appointment is expected to build on the several crypto-forward moves under acting Chair Mark Uyeda.

Notably, Uyeda recently led efforts to form a crypto-specific task force, withdrew a series of enforcement cases involving blockchain firms, and ordered a fresh review of existing crypto policies.

Meanwhile, the new SEC Chair has notable exposure to the sector. He holds an estimated $6 million in crypto-related investments, including nearly $1 million in equity in two blockchain companies and $5 million in a crypto investment fund.

What does the community expect from Atkins?

Considering Atkins’ pro-crypto disposition, industry leaders view his appointment as a possible inflection point for the emerging industry.

Pierre Rochard, CEO of the Bitcoin Bond Company, believes Atkins’ pro-market approach could support the approval of Bitcoin-backed securities. He said that a competitive US capital market would benefit such financial products.

Nate Geraci, President of the ETF Store, shared a similar view. He anticipates the SEC may begin making progress on long-stalled crypto ETF rule change applications.

Geraci pointed to potential decisions on in-kind creations, redemptions, and Ethereum staking structures as early indicators of policy direction under Atkins’ leadership.