Following US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as the next Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), prominent figures from blockchain company Ripple, which has been in a long-standing legal battle with the agency, expressed their strong support for the decision.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called Atkins’ nomination “an extraordinary choice,” signaling optimism about the SEC’s shift in approach to digital assets. “Paul Atkins as SEC chief will bring common sense back to the agency,” Garlinghouse said. “Together with Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, it is time to swiftly and definitively end the era of crypto prohibition, restoring freedom of choice, economic growth, and innovation.”
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty echoed Garlinghouse’s sentiments, praising Atkins’ alignment with Peirce and Uyeda, two current SEC commissioners known for their pro-crypto views. “The trio of Atkins, Peirce, and Uyeda at the SEC will not only bring common sense back to the institution, but also provide true investor protection,” Alderoty said.
Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners and a former SEC commissioner, has been an outspoken advocate for reduced market regulation. President-elect Trump has praised Atkins’ balanced regulatory philosophy and said he sees digital assets as an integral part of economic growth and innovation. “He believes in the promise of strong and innovative capital markets that are responsive to investors’ needs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that Atkins’ leadership will help “make America greater than ever.”
Atkins’ nomination comes as current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, who has led the agency’s crackdown on the crypto industry, is set to resign on Jan. 20, 2025 — the day Trump is inaugurated. Gensler, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, has faced criticism from the crypto community for what many see as an overly aggressive enforcement stance that has stifled innovation.
*This is not investment advice.
