Is Paul Atkins Trump’s Replacement for Gary Gensler in the SEC?

President-elect Donald Trump reportedly interviewed Paul Atkins for the position of SEC Chair. Several reports claimed that Atkins is the current favorite for the role, boosting his prediction market odds.

Atkins previously served as the SEC Chair and pursued crypto advocacy in the private sector after his tenure concluded.

Paul Atkins: The Next SEC Chair?

According to a Bloomberg report, Trump is considering Atkins to be a leading candidate for this role. Since 2020, Atkins has been serving on the advisory board of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. He’s a known advocate for blockchain development and investments.

If selected, Atkins will replace Gary Gensler in late January once Trump takes office. The current SEC chair announced his impending resignation earlier this month while also defending his pessimistic perspective towards the crypto market.

“Atkins is someone who is not only crypto-savvy but possesses a deep understanding of the inner workings of the agency as both a former commissioner and staffer. Atkins is seen as being capable of establishing a pro-innovation agenda while returning the agency to a … standard many… feel was lost under… Gensler,” claimed Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett.

Donald Trump has sworn to support crypto through a sweeping plan of appointments and reforms in his upcoming administration. Although Trump plans to turn over much of the SEC’s jurisdiction over crypto to the CFTC, the SEC is nevertheless a vital component of crypto regulation. In this role, Atkins could significantly benefit the industry.

Terrett claimed that Atkins is currently the most likely candidate for the position, but this is not set in stone. Several other candidates, including those with SEC experience, are also in the funning. For example, “Crypto Mom” Hester Peirce is also a possible candidate, and she is a current SEC Commissioner under Gensler.

Atkins Odds as SEC Chair. Source: Kalshi

If nothing else, these rumors have proved credible in the past. As BeInCrypto reported earlier, Trump also nominated pro-crypto candidate Scott Bessent for the role of Treasury Secretary. If this buzz proves correct, Paul Atkins will lead a much friendlier SEC than Gensler’s.

Overall, it’s now becoming highly likely that the US will have a pro-crypto advocate as the SEC leader and its regulatory scrutiny of the industry will likely ease.