The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of Paul Atkins to head the securities regulator
Paul Atkins has officially been confirmed by the US Senate as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The vote, which ended 52-44, mostly followed party lines. Atkins, a former Wall Street consultant with a clear interest in cryptocurrency, was nominated by President Donald Trump late last year.
Atkins is served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, and was active during the global financial crisis. Since then, he’s remained involved in financial regulation, founding Patomak Global Partners in 2009, a consulting firm that focuses on compliance and risk management. He also played a leading role in the Token Alliance, a group that supports the growth of blockchain and digital asset technologies.
Atkins steps into the role following Mark Uyeda, who had been acting chair since January after Gary Gensler stepped down. Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC took a strict stance on crypto firms, launching numerous investigations and lawsuits. The direction now appears to be shifting. Atkins has made it clear he supports clearer rules for digital assets and wants to build a consistent and fair regulatory approach for the industry.
I’m pleased Paul Atkins is confirmed as Chairman of the SEC. I sat down w/ Mr. Atkins to discuss digital asset legislation, empowering Wyoming’s blockchain future & implementing reforms to the regulatory rulemaking process. I’m confident his leadership will bring positive change. pic.twitter.com/1cpGrNjSrg
— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) April 9, 2025
His nomination was delayed due to the need to complete financial disclosures. Atkins is married into the Humphreys family, which owns TAMKO Building Products, and together, they hold a reported net worth of over $300 million. Disclosures also showed Atkins has up to $6 million invested in crypto-related companies, including Anchorage Digital and Securitize.
Supporters believe Atkins will help guide the SEC toward a more balanced relationship with crypto businesses, giving the market clearer rules while allowing innovation to continue. His confirmation signals a new phase in how the SEC may approach the growing digital assets space under the Trump administration.
