On 21 April 2025, Paul Atkins was sworn in as Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), succeeding Gary Gensler. A familiar face at the agency, Atkins previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under former President George W. Bush. During that time, he championed transparency, consistency, and cost-benefit analysis, and represented the SEC on the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council. Between his stints at the SEC, Atkins founded Patomak Global Partners in 2009, a regulatory consultancy where he served as Chief Executive.
While we await an official announcement outlining Chairman Atkins’ agenda, his confirmation hearing offered early indications of his priorities. Atkins’ expressed a desire to “keep politics out of financial markets” yet his policy intentions chimed with the political administration that appointed him. With a well understood pro-business disposition and career long advocacy for deregulation, Atkins spoke of a return to “common sense” regulation with an emphasis on digital assets, focus on US public markets and US IPOs, and signalling potential rollbacks of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure requirements.
Digital assets appear to be high on his agenda. Atkins has voiced support for establishing clear rules and guidance on cryptocurrencies, marking a shift from the SEC’s previously cautious stance under Gensler. He has also indicated a preference for encouraging U.S.-based crypto firms and discouraging offshore activity.
Notably, he highlighted concerns about foreign companies—especially those based in China—and reinforced the SEC’s commitment to enforcing compliance with U.S. laws amid growing tariff and trade discussions.
Wondering what Chairman Atkins’ leadership means for your advisory business—particularly with pending updates to SEC examination priorities? Will Adkins re-consider and re-calibrate the SEC’s focus away from sophisticated investors and the private fund space? Blueprint GRC’s London-based team of SEC experts will be following events as they unfold and are here to help. We offer compliance consulting, in-sourced flexible staffing, and outsourced GRC functions.
Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.
