Paul Atkins, the newly appointed chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), emphasized the need for clear regulatory guidance for the cryptocurrency sector during his first public remarks in office. Speaking at the SEC’s crypto roundtable, Atkins criticized previous agency leadership for creating “regulatory uncertainty” that he said had hindered innovation.
Atkins, who was sworn in earlier this week, stated that market participants using digital asset technologies “deserve clear regulatory rules of the road.” His comments reflect a shift in the SEC’s stance toward crypto, moving away from the stricter enforcement approach taken under former chair Gary Gensler, who had focused heavily on noncompliance with U.S. securities laws.
The crypto roundtable, initiated by the SEC’s Republican leadership, aimed to reassess how existing securities laws apply to digital assets—a major point of tension between the sector and the commission in recent years.
Before Atkins’ arrival, the SEC had already started modifying its approach, pausing or stepping back from some enforcement cases and beginning efforts to draft new regulations for the cryptocurrency industry.
In response to a question about the possibility of suspending trading in Chinese companies amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions, Atkins noted that the SEC would act if companies failed to comply with U.S. laws.
Atkins’ appointment and early statements signal a potential rebalancing of the SEC’s regulatory framework to encourage responsible innovation in the rapidly evolving digital asset market.