December 06, 2024
By Our Correspondent
Trump characterized Atkins, who serves as the CEO of Patomak Partners and previously held a position as an SEC commissioner, as a “proven leader for common sense regulations.”
Since his departure from the SEC, Atkins has advocated against excessive market regulation. Trump emphasized Atkins’s belief in the potential of dynamic and innovative capital markets that cater to the needs of investors and contribute to making the U.S. economy the strongest in the world. He also acknowledged the importance of digital assets and other innovations in enhancing America’s greatness. This statement was shared on Truth Social.
The SEC, which supervises U.S. securities markets and investments, is currently under the leadership of Gary Gensler, who has been at the forefront of the government’s regulatory actions against the cryptocurrency sector. Gensler, appointed by President Joe Biden, has announced that he will resign from his position on January 20, 2025, coinciding with Trump’s inauguration.
Initially skeptical about cryptocurrency, Trump has since committed to establishing the U.S. as “the crypto capital of the planet” and proposed the creation of a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Following his election victory, significant investments have flowed into cryptocurrency assets, with the value of bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, surpassing $100,000 on Wednesday.
Additionally, shares of the crypto platform Coinbase have increased by over 70% since the election. Paul Grewal, the chief legal officer of Coinbase, extended his congratulations to Atkins via a post on X, expressing appreciation for his dedication to balanced regulation of U.S. securities markets and anticipation for his new leadership at the SEC, which is deemed urgently necessary.
Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California and a prominent member of the House Financial Services Committee, expressed concerns that Atkins may not adequately oversee cryptocurrencies if appointed as SEC chair.
“He would likely assert that no cryptocurrency qualifies as a security, which would imply that no exchange handling cryptocurrencies is a securities exchange,” Sherman remarked. “This could create significant opportunities for defrauding investors.”
Atkins commenced his professional journey as a lawyer and possesses extensive experience in the financial markets, having worked in both governmental and private sectors. In the 1990s, he served on the teams of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt.
His tenure as an SEC commissioner began in 2002, a period marked by the repercussions of corporate scandals involving Enron and WorldCom, which intensified scrutiny on Wall Street and its regulatory bodies.
During his time at the SEC, Atkins was regarded as the most conservative member and was known for his strong advocacy of free-market principles. He called for enhanced transparency and a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with new SEC regulations.
Additionally, he prioritized investor education and advocated for heightened enforcement against individuals who defraud investors online, manipulate markets, or engage in Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent activities.
Conversely, Atkins opposed severe penalties for companies accused of fraudulent behavior, arguing that such measures failed to deter criminal activity. He generated controversy in the summer of 2006 by stating that the practice of granting stock options to executives prior to the announcement of news likely to boost share prices did not amount to insider trading.
