Trump considers crypto lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén for SEC Chair

Key Takeaways

Teresa Goody Guillén is being considered as SEC Chair in a potential Trump administration.
Goody Guillén has support from the crypto industry due to her pro-crypto stance and SEC experience.

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Teresa Goody Guillén, a blockchain lawyer and former SEC attorney, to lead the SEC, according to a CoinDesk’s report.

This consideration comes amid speculation that current SEC Chair Gary Gensler may step down by Thanksgiving, after hinting last week that he was preparing to leave his position.

With the year coming to an end, the crypto industry is eagerly anticipating the appointment of a new SEC chair, particularly as Gensler’s tenure has been marked by a hostile stance toward crypto.

A fresh leader, potentially more lenient toward the crypto industry, would be a welcome change as Trump prepares to take office in January 2025, and Goody Guillén has emerged as a strong contender.

Co-leading BakerHostetler’s blockchain practice, she has garnered significant support from crypto companies thanks to her experience at the SEC and her work representing blockchain firms and traditional Wall Street institutions.

Brendan Playford, co-founder of Masa, a token-powered decentralized data provider for AI companies, described Goody Guillén as the best candidate among those currently being considered.

He highlighted her deep understanding of the laws and the workings of the SEC, emphasizing that she would be an instant change maker capable of dramatically transforming the industry with her pro-crypto stance.

Other candidates being considered include Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP partner Robert Stebbins, Paul Hastings partner Brad Bondi, former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins, Robinhood chief legal officer Dan Gallagher, and former acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks.

Goody Guillén served as an attorney for the SEC’s Office of the General Counsel from 2009 to 2011.

She later worked at Kalorama Partners with former SEC chair Harvey Pitt, advising clients against SEC enforcement cases.