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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is undergoing a leadership transition with the appointment of Paul Atkins as the new chairman following Gary Gensler. Before stepping down, Gensler made several significant appointments within the agency, which have been criticized by former SEC Internet Enforcement Director John Reed Stark.
Issues with Gary Gensler’s Appointments
In the weeks leading up to his departure, Gensler appointed individuals for senior positions, reinforcing the presence of like-minded individuals within the SEC. John Reed Stark remarked that Gensler is trying to manage the SEC’s Enforcement Division from the shadows, citing the promotion of five personnel to senior roles within the division.
While Stark acknowledges that promotions themselves are not inherently negative, he criticizes their speed and motivation. He points out that there are very few senior positions available at the SEC, which are typically filled through lengthy processes spanning a decade. The nature of these promotions as career civil service positions complicates the removal of personnel.
Expectations from the Sector
Stark further indicated that four of the five promoted individuals had recently led major cryptocurrency operations, suggesting that these senior officials could obstruct investigations of previous crypto enforcement actions by new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.
In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the recent U.S. elections, some consider it a vote of confidence for the cryptocurrency sector. Trump, who labeled himself as the “crypto president” during his campaign, has garnered support from crypto advocates for his potential re-election bid.
Following his victory, the Presidential candidate has begun making key appointments to fulfill his promises. The appointment of Paul Atkins, alongside David Sacks as the Crypto Czar, aims to guide policy changes that will assist the cryptocurrency industry.
Sector leaders are optimistic that these initial steps will positively impact the market. For example, examining Operation Chokepoint 2.0 could address the systematic exclusion of crypto firms from banking systems, which has led to the collapse of some banks. The SEC’s new management and appointments signal a critical juncture in regulating the cryptocurrency sector, with the speed and motivation of these appointments being closely monitored by industry stakeholders.
