Gary Gensler Resignation: Why SEC Chair Loved His Job and Aspired to Make the World a Better Place

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler is all set to step down in January 2025. Gensler, known for his tough stance on cryptocurrencies, led a crackdown on the industry, but his departure signals a potential shift in regulatory direction. The SEC had been aggressively pursuing lawsuits against major crypto players like Coinbase and Kraken, but under new leadership, there may be a retrenchment in these actions.

While the XRP community and other crypto leaders are celebrating Gensler’s exit, here’s a look at why the SEC Chair loved doing what he did. Previously in an interview with David Rubenstein, Gensler had said, “I do enjoy it. Look everybody got to find their passion. I was intrigued and interested in finance and I guess god’s gift of math and numbers. And I also always felt like what we can do to leave our world a better place?”

He continued, “You know when we get to the end of our lives and look back it’s our family it’s our loved ones it’s our friends. And to me, we leave the world a little bit better off. And that’s what motivates me in this job. Can we do something that’s better for working families or people starting out in their life saving and investing for their future and tip the scales a little bit in their favor away from the folks in the middle.”

Who Will Replace Gensler?

As for who could replace Gensler, the conversation centers on possible candidates, including SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda and external figures like former OCC head Brian Brooks and former SEC official Dan Gallagher. Whoever takes over is expected to bring a less aggressive approach than Gensler, which is seen positively by both Wall Street and the crypto industry.