Paul Atkins, Trump’s SEC Pick, Holds $6 Million in Crypto – Financial Disclosure Reveals

Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has disclosed that he and his wife, Sarah Humphreys, hold assets worth at least $327 million. Their investments include up to $6 million in cryptocurrency holdings. This comes just days before his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee.

Atkins’ financial ties to the crypto industry are notable. According to an ethics disclosure, he holds up to $1 million in equity across two cryptocurrency companies and as much as $5 million in a crypto investment fund. This stands in sharp contrast to former SEC chair Gary Gensler, who was a strong critic of the industry.

Massive Fortune With Crypto Investments

A financial disclosure released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics on March 25 shows that most of Atkins and his wife’s wealth comes from his consulting firm, Patomak Global Partners, and Tamko Building Products. While their minimum disclosed assets total $327 million, their wealth could be as high as $588 million based on the highest estimates.

Atkins has invested heavily in crypto-related businesses, including up to $500,000 each in Anchorage Digital and Securitize, a platform focused on tokenization. He also has between $1 million and $5 million invested in Off the Chain Capital, a crypto investment fund where he is a limited partner.

Despite his deep financial involvement in the sector, the disclosure confirms that Atkins does not personally own any Bitcoin.

Stepping Away to Avoid Conflicts of Interest

If confirmed, Atkins has committed to making several changes to prevent potential conflicts of interest. He plans to resign as CEO of Patomak within 90 days, sell his equity stake in Securitize, and step down from his role with the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s Token Alliance.

Atkins, who served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, is set to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on March 27.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the committee, has signaled plans to question Atkins about his financial ties to the crypto industry. She has specifically asked him to address any connections to FTX and other well-paid clients in the sector.

Other Trump Officials Under Watch

Atkins is not the only Trump administration official taking steps to avoid conflict-of-interest concerns. On March 5, David Sacks, Trump’s AI and crypto czar, disclosed that his venture capital firm sold more than $200 million in crypto and related stocks before he took office.

Trump himself has also faced criticism over his family’s involvement in World Liberty Financial and the launch of his memecoin in January, raising concerns about the administration’s close ties to the crypto industry.

With millions in crypto and a history of market-friendly policies, Atkins could steer the SEC in a very different direction. Let’s see how it plays out.