How Is Trump’s SEC Chair Paul Atkins Crypto Approach Different from Gensler?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is heading in a new direction. Paul Atkins, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, has promised to scrap the aggressive enforcement style of former chair Gary Gensler. In its place: a friendlier, clearer approach and a big push to put crypto at the center of U.S. finance.

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From Crackdowns to Clarity

Atkins says the SEC should go after real fraudsters, not firms caught in technical slip-ups. “If you lie, cheat or steal [from] your investors and steal their money like Bernie Madoff, we’ll leave you naked, homeless and without wheels,” he told the Financial Times.

But for minor violations? The new chair argues businesses deserve notice before regulators “bash down their door.”

It’s a direct break from Gensler’s era, which critics say relied too heavily on fines and lawsuits.

A Different Take on Crypto

One of Atkins’ biggest departures is his stance on digital assets. While Gensler insisted most tokens were securities, Atkins says “most tokens should not be treated like stocks.” That shift could reshape how crypto projects operate in the U.S.

His answer is Project Crypto – a plan to bring rules for trading, lending, and staking under one simple license. The goal is to make compliance easier while giving investors confidence. Atkins also sees tokenized stocks and bonds trading on blockchain 24/7 as the future, if the rules can keep up.

Trump’s Push: Making the U.S. the Crypto Capital

Atkins’ vision lines up with Trump’s promise to make America the “crypto capital of the world.” Since January, the SEC has quietly dropped several crypto cases. That move alone shows how quickly the regulatory mood is shifting.

Trump himself is openly bullish on the sector, reporting millions in income from crypto ventures and even has his own $TRUMP memecoin. With political backing this strong, the industry sees a clear opening.

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What Comes Next

The SEC under Atkins is also exploring bold ideas. He has floated the rise of “super apps” that let users trade, stake, and lend from one platform under a single rulebook. He’s also working with the CFTC on joint rules for DeFi and tokenized assets.

Washington is no longer treating crypto as a threat. For startups, that could mean more room to grow in the U.S. For investors, it could mean new opportunities but also fresh risks if oversight loosens too much.

Either way, the shift is clear. The Gensler era of clampdowns is over. Atkins is betting that clarity, not fear, is the way to make the U.S. the next global leader in crypto.

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