- The appointment aligns with the President-elect’s campaign promises to support the crypto sector.
- Trump praised Atkins as a proponent of “common-sense regulations” and emphasized his support for the crypto market.
US President-elect Donald Trump nominated crypto supporter Paul Atkins as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and tech insider Gail Slater to lead the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
Atkins, a former SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush, has built his reputation on fostering innovation and pushing for lighter regulatory frameworks. His leadership at Patomak Global Partners and his involvement with the Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance signal a hands-off approach to crypto regulation.
“Paul is a proven leader for common sense regulations. He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump praised Atkins as a champion of “common-sense regulations” and an advocate for the role of digital assets in revitalizing the economy. The crypto community welcomed the appointment, with the top cryptocurrency rising to an all-time high of more than $100,000.
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Promise to Support the Crypto Sector
Atkins’ track record aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to support the crypto sector, including proposals like a national bitcoin reserve and retaining seized digital assets.
Meanwhile, the President-elect announced Gail Slater as the Justice Department’s antitrust division, signaling tougher days ahead for Big Tech. Slater is a veteran policy expert with extensive experience in antitrust investigations, CNN reported.
He previously worked at the Federal Trade Commission and served as an economic policy advisor during Trump’s first term. Trump emphasized his administration’s intent to curb the dominance of major tech players, accusing them of stifling competition and limiting free expression. “Big Tech has run wild for years,” Trump posted on Truth Social, vowing to protect smaller competitors and push for fairer markets.
While crypto advocates celebrate Trump’s SEC pick, Big Tech might face one of its toughest regulatory environments yet. These contrasting nominations highlighted Trump’s dual goals of fostering innovation in emerging financial technologies while reining in the perceived excesses of Silicon Valley.
