US Senate Confirms Paul Atkins as SEC Chair

The US Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins, as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with a 52-44 vote, mostly divided along party lines. Atkins’ confirmation on April 9 follows his appointment by Trump last year.

Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins previously served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 during the global financial crisis.

“A veteran of our Commission, we look forward to him joining with us, along with our dedicated staff, to fulfill our mission on behalf of the investing public,” stated the agency’s commissioners in an April 9 statement.

In 2009, Atkins founded Patomak Global Partners, a financial consulting firm focused on regulatory compliance and risk management. He also co-chaired the crypto advocacy group Token Alliance from 2017 to late 2024.