Paul Atkins officially assumes role as 34th chairman of the U.S. SEC
Paul Atkins begins SEC tenure
Paul S. Atkins has officially assumed office as the 34th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump and confirmation by the Senate on April 9, 2025.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on April 21. Atkins succeeds Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, who was appointed after the end of Gary Gensler’s term. Since taking office, Uyeda has led several key SEC initiatives related to cryptocurrencies.
Public statement and professional background
In a public statement, Atkins expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him by President Trump and the Senate. He reaffirmed his commitment to the SEC’s core mission: protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring fair, orderly, and efficient markets.
“Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business,” Atkins said.
Atkins previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush, advocating for transparency and the use of cost-benefit analysis in regulatory processes. He also held leadership roles in the private sector, including as CEO of Patomak Global Partners, where he promoted best practices for the digital asset industry.
Expectations and regulatory shift
Atkins’ return to the SEC is widely viewed as a turning point for cryptocurrency regulation. He is expected to adopt a more industry-friendly stance compared to his predecessor, Gary Gensler. Ahead of his appointment, the SEC dropped a number of lawsuits and investigations involving major crypto firms such as Coinbase, Gemini, Consensys, and Uniswap.
This move reflects an effort to rebuild trust between the regulator and the blockchain industry.
Future tasks and priorities
As SEC Chair, Atkins will oversee more than 70 crypto ETF filings in 2025, covering assets such as XRP, Solana, and Litecoin, along with meme-inspired tokens including Doge and 2x Melania.
With a deep understanding of financial markets and extensive experience in the crypto sector, Paul Atkins is poised to lead the SEC into a new era of collaboration, modernization, and digital asset integration.
Note: Earlier, it was reported that Ripple Labs and the U.S. SEC filed a joint motion with the Court of Appeals to pause litigation, suggesting a possible settlement between the two parties.
