Paul Atkins is currently the leading candidate, with about a 70% chance of being nominated as the next SEC chairman.
Incoming President Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly considering several candidates for the role of SEC chairman and could announce its decision “as soon as tomorrow,” according to FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Who Will Be Trump’s SEC Chairman?
Traders at Kalshi are betting on Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, as the most likely nominee for the role of SEC chairman under Donald Trump’s second term. Support for Atkins has grown steadily following his interview with Trump’s transition team.
Atkins currently leads the betting pool with nearly a 70% chance of nomination, surpassing Brian Brooks, who now holds a 20% chance, according to Kalshi’s oddsmakers.
Atkins is widely known for his pro-innovation stance on digital assets and the fintech sector. He has been critical of the SEC’s existing regulatory approach under Gary Gensler, which he views as excessively focused on enforcement. Atkins has consistently advocated for clearer regulations surrounding cryptocurrency-linked products and a supportive regulatory framework for innovation.
If selected as SEC chairman, Atkins is expected to adopt a friendlier approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
Other potential candidates include:
- Mark Uyeda, current SEC commissioner.
- Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s Chief Legal Officer.
- Heath Tarbert, former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
SEC Chairman Gary Gensler to Step Down in January
Gary Gensler, the current SEC chairman, will step down on January 20, 2025, after serving as the agency’s 33rd chairman since April 17, 2021.
Gensler’s tenure has been marked by heightened scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector. Under his leadership, the SEC initiated numerous enforcement actions against cryptocurrency intermediaries for registration violations and fraud.
During Gensler’s time at the helm, the SEC also approved Bitcoin and Ethereum spot and futures ETFs, a significant milestone for the crypto industry.
