Newly appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins delivered his first major address Friday, sharply criticizing the agency’s previous treatment of the crypto industry under former Chair Gary Gensler and the Biden administration. Speaking from the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, Atkins applauded the agency’s recent shift toward a more constructive regulatory approach.
“Market participants engaging with this technology deserve clear regulatory rules of the road,” Atkins said.
“Innovation has unfortunately been stifled for the last several years due to market and regulatory uncertainty that, unfortunately, the SEC has fostered.”
Atkins’ comments came just ahead of the SEC’s third crypto-focused roundtable, this time centering on crypto custody—the infrastructure behind securing and storing digital assets for clients. His speech marked a notable pivot in tone, reinforcing the agency’s new commitment to clearer, more innovation-friendly policies.
During his remarks, Atkins also praised Commissioner Hester Peirce, who has been leading the SEC’s newly established crypto task force since January.
“My warmest personal thanks go to Commissioner Peirce for her principled and tireless advocacy for common-sense crypto policy within the United States,” he said.
“It’s no wonder that she has justly earned the title of ‘Crypto Mom.’”
Atkins’ address signals a decisive cultural shift at the SEC, suggesting that digital assets may finally see a more coherent and supportive regulatory environment in the United States.
Atkins Signals Pro-Crypto Agenda as SEC Embraces New Regulatory Path
Under the leadership of Commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce over the past three months, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dramatically reshaped its approach to crypto regulation—abandoning many of its headline-grabbing lawsuits and investigations targeting the industry. The agency has also issued key clarifications, exempting multiple categories of crypto assets from being classified as securities.
Now, with Paul Atkins officially sworn in as SEC Chair after a lengthy confirmation process, the agency’s pivot toward a crypto-friendly regulatory framework appears to be accelerating. Atkins, who previously served as an SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush, has made it clear in recent weeks that advancing clear, innovation-supportive crypto policies will be a central mission of his tenure.
During his swearing-in ceremony at the White House earlier this week, and again yesterday in his first official address, Atkins underscored his commitment to rebuilding regulatory trust with the digital asset industry.
“I look forward to engaging with market participants, and working with colleagues, President Trump’s administration, and Congress to establish a rational, fit-for-purpose framework for crypto assets,” he said.
Atkins added that he expects the crypto sector to deliver “huge benefits” to the financial system, citing improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, transparency, and risk management as key outcomes from broader blockchain adoption.
His remarks further cement the impression that the SEC under Atkins will prioritize pragmatic regulation—setting a dramatically different tone from the enforcement-heavy approach that dominated the agency’s crypto policy in recent years.
Quick Facts
- SEC Chairman Paul Atkins has criticized previous regulatory approaches for hindering crypto innovation and emphasized the need for clear guidelines.
- The SEC is shifting toward a more pro-crypto stance, including reevaluating enforcement actions and developing new regulations tailored to digital assets.
- Commissioner Hester Peirce has been recognized for her leadership in promoting sensible crypto policies within the SEC.
- The crypto industry views the regulatory shift as a positive development, though experts stress the importance of maintaining investor protections.
