Paul Atkins has become the richest SEC chairman in decades, with some of his assets tied to cryptocurrencies. Paul Atkins' appointment will help crypto companies innovate and remove obstacles, but may not bring the strong momentum that investors expect.Paul Atkins has become the richest SEC chairman in decades, with some of his assets tied to cryptocurrencies. Paul Atkins' appointment will help crypto companies innovate and remove obstacles, but may not bring the strong momentum that investors expect.

Paul Atkins officially takes over as SEC chairman: What does this mean for cryptocurrencies?

2025/04/12 13:05
4 min read

By Connor Sephton , CryptoNews

Compiled by: Felix, PANews

It’s official. Paul Atkins will become the next chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Senate confirmed the nomination by a vote of 52 to 44, and the final hearing went smoothly.

Paul Atkins tried to distinguish himself from his predecessor Gary Gensler at the hearing, saying: “I have been leading the industry’s efforts for digital assets since 2017, and I have witnessed how the lack of regulation and ambiguity in digital assets has created uncertainty in the market and inhibited innovation.”

He went on to say that one of the top priorities when developing rules for the cryptocurrency industry is to take a “rational, coherent and principled approach.”

Senate Banking Committee member Tim Scott, another crypto supporter on Capitol Hill, welcomed the appointment, adding: “Chairman Paul Atkins will also provide regulatory clarity for digital assets, allowing American innovation to flourish and ensuring we remain competitive on the global stage.”

This is significant because during the Gensler era, the SEC has long been accused of taking an “enforcement-style approach” to regulation, viewing the entire crypto industry as a “Wild West” rife with fraud.

In contrast, Paul Atkins has served as an advisor to some of the largest companies in the digital asset space for many years, including cryptocurrency exchanges and decentralized finance platforms.

Paul Atkins Net Worth Revealed

Candidates for public office are required to declare their finances under strict disclosure rules.

Paul Atkins and his wife Sarah have assets worth more than $328 million. According to Bloomberg, Paul Atkins has become the richest US SEC chairman in decades.

Among them, a small part of Paul Atkins’ wealth is actually tied to digital assets, as follows:

  • Hold up to $500,000 in call options at Securitize
  • Up to $500,000 in equity in Anchorage Digital
  • Up to $5 million in assets held in crypto investment fund Off The Chain Capital.

All of these assets must be divested due to potential conflicts of interest, but Paul Atkins’ connection to Securitize is noteworthy, as he served on the company’s board of directors. The company has been working hard to position itself as a market leader in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), which is expected to become one of the major technology themes of the 2020s.

What happens next?

Before Paul Atkins became chairman of the SEC, the commission was busy with many cases initiated during Gensler's tenure.

The investigation into Crypto.com has been dropped. The regulator has reached an agreement with Ripple, which means a multi-year lawsuit is coming to an end. Cases against Kraken, Tron, Consensys, Gemini, OpenSea, Coinbase, and Robinhood have also been closed.

At the same time, Hester Peirce, the “mother of cryptocurrency,” will lead a special task force focused on digital assets. The task force’s top priorities include defining whether digital assets are securities, reviewing what does and does not fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. SEC, and providing clear guidance for lending and pledging.

This means that one of the most important decisions facing Paul Atkins is whether to approve a series of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the spot prices of small altcoins, joining the ranks of existing ETFs on Wall Street, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

A string of filings have been delayed in recent months — a sign that SEC officials are trying to stall until a new chairman is appointed. Approval of funds focused on XRP and SOL is of particular significance because it could open the door to products that track a wide range of digital assets.

There were enthusiastic reactions to the confirmation of Paul Atkins' nomination. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said, "I believe his leadership will bring positive changes." Republican French Hill, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, hoped that he could "repeal the harmful, anti-consumer regulations introduced during Gensler's administration."

While it is believed that Paul Atkins' appointment will help cryptocurrency companies accelerate innovation and remove obstacles, he may not be able to bring the strong momentum that investors expect. The continued uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariff policy and the global economy (not to mention the worsening trade war) means that the many unfavorable factors facing Bitcoin are far beyond his control.

Related reading: Before officially taking charge, can the SEC’s “conversational governance” make the crypto world flourish?

Market Opportunity
Notcoin Logo
Notcoin Price(NOT)
$0.0004512
$0.0004512$0.0004512
-0.55%
USD
Notcoin (NOT) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Victra Named 2025 Recipient of Verizon’s Best Build Compliance Award

Victra Named 2025 Recipient of Verizon’s Best Build Compliance Award

Verizon Recognizes Victra for Industry-Leading Excellence in Store Design and Brand Compliance. RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon has named Victra
Share
AI Journal2026/02/03 20:49
Stablecoins could face yield compression after Fed’s rate cut

Stablecoins could face yield compression after Fed’s rate cut

The post Stablecoins could face yield compression after Fed’s rate cut appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The Federal Reserve reduced its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.00%–4.25%, the first rate cut this year. The move, framed as a response to weakening labor data, signals the start of a cautious easing cycle. Projections show two more cuts possible before year-end, with further reductions likely in 2026. Inflation remains above target, but Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized risk management over immediate price control, prioritizing stability in employment conditions. Stablecoins will be quickly affected by this. Issuers like Tether and Circle have generated large profits by holding reserves in short-term Treasuries during the high-rate environment of the past two years. That income stream now begins to erode. DeFi protocols that offered tokenized Treasury exposure face the same squeeze, with returns set to fall further if the Fed continues cutting into next year. A multi-cut easing cycle could substantially reduce stablecoin profitability, forcing issuers and protocols to adapt. The decline in dollar yields also alters the balance between holding stablecoins passively and seeking higher returns in risk assets. Bitcoin benefits most from this reallocation. As nominal rates move lower and inflation remains sticky, real yields decline, making non-yielding assets more attractive. The weaker dollar and improving risk appetite amplify the effect, positioning Bitcoin as a relative winner of the Fed’s shift. The September cut is modest, but it could bring significant changes to the crypto market. Stablecoin models built on Treasury income face structural headwinds after the rate cut, while Bitcoin and other high-beta assets stand to gain from falling real yields and increased liquidity. The Fed has opened an easing cycle, and crypto’s internal capital flows will move with it. The post Stablecoins could face yield compression after Fed’s rate cut appeared first on CryptoSlate. Source: https://cryptoslate.com/insights/stablecoins-could-face-yield-compression-after-feds-rate-cut/
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 19:31
Wormhole Jumps 11% on Revised Tokenomics and Reserve Initiative

Wormhole Jumps 11% on Revised Tokenomics and Reserve Initiative

The post Wormhole Jumps 11% on Revised Tokenomics and Reserve Initiative appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Cross-chain bridge Wormhole plans to launch a reserve funded by both on-chain and off-chain revenues. Wormhole, a cross-chain bridge connecting over 40 blockchain networks, unveiled a tokenomics overhaul on Wednesday, hinting at updated staking incentives, a strategic reserve for the W token, and a smoother unlock schedule. The price of W jumped 11% on the news to $0.096, though the token is still down 92% since its debut in April 2024. W Chart In a blog post, Wormhole said it’s planning to set up a “Wormhole Reserve” that will accumulate on-chain and off-chain revenues “to support the growth of the Wormhole ecosystem.” The protocol also said it plans to target a 4% base yield for governance stakers, replacing the current variable APY system, noting that “yield will come from a combination of the existing token supply and protocol revenues.” It’s unclear whether Wormhole will draw from the reserve to fund this target. Wormhole did not immediately respond to The Defiant’s request for comment. Wormhole emphasized that the maximum supply of 10 billion W tokens will remain the same, while large annual token unlocks will be replaced by a bi-weekly distribution beginning Oct. 3 to eliminate “moments of concentrated market pressure.” Data from CoinGecko shows there are over 4.7 billion W tokens in circulation, meaning that more than half the supply is yet to be unlocked, with portions of that supply to be released over the next 4.5 years. Source: https://thedefiant.io/news/defi/wormhole-jumps-11-on-revised-tokenomics-and-reserve-initiative
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 01:31