Paul Atkins Emerges As Potential SEC Chair Under Trump Administration

According to Cointelegraph, speculation is mounting over whether Paul Atkins, a former member of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during President George W. Bush's tenure, could be selected by Donald Trump to lead the regulatory body starting in 2025. Reports from various news outlets have presented differing views on Atkins' potential nomination. Prediction platform Kalshi initially reported on December 3 that Atkins' odds of being nominated by Trump had surged to 93%, indicating a strong likelihood of his selection following Trump's scheduled inauguration in January. Although these odds later decreased to below 90%, Kalshi still ranked Atkins significantly higher than other potential candidates, such as former acting comptroller of the currency Brian Brooks and former SEC attorney Teresa Goody Guillen. Politico reported on November 27 that Trump's team had invited Atkins for an interview with the president-elect. Following this meeting, some news outlets, citing unnamed sources, suggested that Trump had either chosen Atkins as his SEC chair pick or that Atkins was hesitant to accept the position. As of the time of publication, Trump had not officially announced any SEC chair nomination on Truth Social, his preferred platform for such announcements. If selected, Atkins would require formal nomination in January and subsequent confirmation by the US Senate, where Republicans are expected to hold a slim majority. Despite Kalshi's favorable odds for Atkins, there remains a possibility that Trump could choose a different candidate, such as Brooks or Guillen, or even someone not currently on the shortlist. This uncertainty is underscored by Trump's previous decision to bypass his shortlist for the US Attorney General position, opting instead for Matt Gaetz, who later withdrew from consideration. Replacing current SEC Chair Gary Gensler with a new appointee was one of Trump's campaign promises to the crypto industry. Gensler announced his intention to step down on January 20, coinciding with Trump's planned inauguration. The SEC chair holds considerable influence over policies impacting digital assets, including the decision to pursue enforcement actions against firms accused of offering unregistered securities. The crypto industry has been vocal in its calls for the SEC to establish clear regulatory guidelines, warning that inconsistent approaches could drive companies out of the United States.