Trump-Appointed SEC Chief Promises Regulatory Easing—But Vows Crooks Will Still Face Consequences
SEC shifts from enforcement to empowerment under new leadership.
Market Watchdogs on a Leash
The Trump-appointed SEC chair signals a dramatic pivot toward industry-friendly policies—cutting red tape, fast-tracking approvals, and dialing back aggressive enforcement. Crypto exchanges and token issuers brace for what insiders call the 'regulatory thaw.'
But Don't Test the Waters
Despite the relaxed stance, the commission warns that blatant fraud won't be tolerated. 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,' one official remarked—a nod to continued scrutiny on pyramid schemes and wash trading.
Wall Street's already pricing in the optimism—Bitcoin popped 4% on the news. Because nothing says 'healthy market' like regulators taking a nap while the bulls run wild.
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“You can’t just suddenly come and bash down their door and say ‘uh-uh we caught you, you’re doing something and it’s a technical violation,'” Atkins said in an interview with the Financial Times. He added that he seeks to scrap the perception that the SEC enforces “a lack of due process, a lack of notice, a lack of rule of law.”
SEC Chair Supports Crypto Innovations
Atkins is a proponent of cryptocurrency, marking a sharp contrast to previous SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Unlike Gensler, Atkins holds the belief that most tokens should not be classified as securities and supports creating rules governing the tokenization of stock shares and bonds. The SEC closely scrutinizes securities given the risks of fraud and market manipulation.
Atkins stressed that the SEC plans to go after the real offenders instead of targeting minor technical violations. He also said the agency wants to give businesses, including those in crypto, clear rules so they can innovate without worrying about running into legal trouble.
