Trump expected to name new SEC chair “as soon as tomorrow”

Key Takeaways

Paul Atkins is the leading candidate for the new SEC Chair position with a 70% probability.
Current SEC Chair, Gary Gensler, has focused on increased crypto oversight.

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is weighing in on a number of SEC Chair candidates and may reveal their choice “as soon as tomorrow,” according to FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

Who will be Trump’s SEC chair, according to Kalshi?

Traders on Kalshi are favoring Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, as the top candidate for the SEC Chair role in Donald Trump’s second term. Support for Atkins has grown following his interview with Trump’s transition team.

Leading the poll with a 70% probability of appointment, Paul Atkins is ahead of Brian Brooks, who has dropped to second place with just a 20% chance according to Kalshi bettors.

Paul Atkins currently tops the poll with a 70% likelihood of becoming the SEC chair

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Atkins, known for his pro-innovation stance on digital assets and fintech, has criticized the current SEC’s regulation-by-enforcement approach under Gary Gensler. He has advocated for clearer regulations around crypto assets and a regulatory framework that promotes innovation.

If appointed as SEC Chair, Atkins is expected to bring a more balanced approach to crypto regulation.

Other candidates under consideration include current SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, Robinhood’s chief legal boss Dan Gallagher, and former CFTC Chair Heath Tarbert.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler will depart next month

Current SEC Chair Gary Gensler will conclude his term on January 20, 2025, after serving as the agency’s 33rd chair since April 17, 2021.

His tenure was characterized by increased oversight of the crypto industry, with multiple enforcement actions against crypto intermediaries for fraud and registration violations.

The SEC under Gensler also approved both spot and futures Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.