Why Trump’s SEC Chair Pick, Paul Atkins, Is So Positive for Crypto - Ep. 745

With the nomination of the pro-crypto Paul Atkins to be the next SEC chair, the crypto industry is potentially facing a 180 from the agency. As co-chair of The Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance initiative and a board member of Securitize, Atkins is not only pro-crypto, but also against the type of “regulation by enforcement” strategy of current Chair Gary Gensler.
In this episode, Cody Carbone, president at The Digital Chamber, explains why Atkins is likely to start reassessment of the agency’s lawsuits against crypto firms, why Trump might break with protocol to fill one of the commissioner seats that would typically be filled by a Democrat, and who he thinks might make for a good “crypto czar.”
Show highlights:

Why Cody that Atkins leading the SEC would be a massive transformational shift

What can be expected from Atkins given his prior experience

What crypto cases might be dropped under his leadership

Whether Atkins could provide rulemaking before Congress passes legislation

Cody’s hard criticism of Gary Gensler’s modus operandi

Why Cody thinks Trump could surprise people when it comes to replacing Democratic Cmr. Jaime Lizárraga

How long it could take for Congress to confirm Atkins

Why Cody believes that Atkins will support Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal

Whether the CFTC will be the primary regulator of the crypto industry in a Trump administration

Whether the U.S. will have a crypto czar and who it could be

What crypto legislation Cody thinks is likely to be passed in 2025

Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
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Guest

Cody Carbone, President at The Digital Chamber
Links

Trump’s Office Picks:

Unchained:

Trump Taps Paul Atkins for Next SEC Chair, Making Good on His Crypto Promises

Democratic SEC Commissioner Is Stepping Down, but That Doesn’t Mean Trump Will Get 2 Outright Picks

Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary

Trump’s Plans for a ‘Crypto Czar’ and a Crypto Advisory Council: Here’s What We Know

A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens

Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations

Congressional Results

John Reed Stark’s tweet:“current SEC Chair Gary Gensler is quietly working behind the scenes to lead the SEC from the grave”

Buckley LLP Infobytes Blog: SEC commissioner proposes cryptocurrency safe harbor

Fox Business: Perianne Boring among contenders to lead agency involved with crypto in Trump admin

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:19 Why Cody believes Atkins would be a transformational SEC chair

03:13 Insights from Atkins’ past experience and what it means for crypto

07:19 SEC/crypto cases likely to be dropped under Atkins’ leadership

14:31 Potential for SEC rulemaking before Congress passes legislation

18:19 Cody’s critique of Gary Gensler’s regulatory approach

21:13 Why Trump might break with protocol to replace Democratic commissioner Jaime Lizárraga

23:27 Expected timeline for Congress to confirm Atkins

26:52 Support for Cmr. Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal

28:18 An expanded role for the CFTC in crypto regulation?

31:37 Speculation on the potential for a U.S. crypto czar

35:03 Key crypto legislation to watch for in 2025

38:24 Crypto News Recap

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