Trump’s SEC Nominee Paul Atkins Owns $6 Million in Crypto—Bullish for the Industry?
Paul Atkins, the Trump nominee for SEC chair, holds millions in crypto assets—signaling a major shift in regulatory approach.

Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has found himself in the spotlight for his significant crypto-related assets. According to an ethics disclosure released Tuesday, Atkins holds as much as $6 million in cryptocurrency-related investments, a stark contrast to his predecessor, Gary Gensler, who was known for his hardline stance against digital assets.
This revelation underscores a potential shift in how the SEC will approach crypto regulation moving forward. The disclosure reveals that Atkins held a board seat at Securitize, a BlackRock-backed tokenization firm, and had substantial equity and call options in the company. Additionally, he owned equity in Anchorage Digital, a leading crypto custodian, and had a multi-million-dollar stake in Off the Chain Capital, a crypto investment fund.
A Departure from the Gensler Era
Atkins’ pro-crypto stance sets him apart from Gary Gensler, who led a regulatory crackdown on the industry during his tenure. Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC sued major crypto exchanges, including Coinbase, Binance, and Gemini, arguing that they were trading unregistered securities. The regulator also went after high-profile celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan for allegedly promoting unregistered tokens.
The former SEC chair insisted that most cryptocurrencies were securities and should be regulated accordingly. However, the crypto industry fiercely opposed this view, calling for tailored regulations that take blockchain technology’s unique aspects into account. Executives like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong argued that the government should draft new legislation instead of enforcing outdated securities laws.
A Wealthy Nominee with a Different Vision
Paul Atkins’ crypto holdings represent only a small fraction of his total wealth. Bloomberg estimates that Atkins and his spouse have a combined net worth of at least $327 million, with most of his fortune stemming from Patomak Global Partners, a financial consulting firm he founded.
Despite his significant personal investments in crypto, Atkins has committed to divesting his holdings as part of his ethics agreement. He has also agreed to step down from his position at the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s Token Alliance, a pro-crypto policy group.
A New Era for Crypto Regulation?
Atkins’ appointment could signal a major shift in the SEC’s regulatory approach. Unlike Gensler, he has expressed support for the industry’s calls for clear and accommodative rules rather than enforcement-driven crackdowns. In a 2023 interview, he criticized the U.S. regulatory approach, blaming it for the FTX collapse that rocked the crypto market in late 2022.
His confirmation hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will be closely watched by both Wall Street and the crypto industry. If confirmed, Atkins will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory landscape for digital assets in the coming years.
