As speculation grows over the future of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, many are asking when he will step down and who might replace him. In an interview with Thinking Crypto, Cody Carbone of the Digital Chamber weighed in on the topic, suggesting that Gensler’s recent speech in New York may have been a subtle farewell address. Carbone said that many in the room shared this sentiment, with the atmosphere suggesting that Gensler could be preparing to exit the role.
It’s customary for an SEC chair to resign when a new administration from a different party takes office, typically around November or December. He added that, “I think his days are numbered. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was gone by the end of the day, if he was gone by the end of the week, or if he was gone before the end of the year. But I think that’s the timeline I’m looking at — December 31st, I think he’s gone.”
Given the timing of the upcoming presidential inauguration, Carbone believes Gensler’s days at the SEC are numbered. He speculates that Gensler could be gone as soon as the end of the week, or by December 31st at the latest.
“Historically, it’s standard for the SEC chair to resign if an incoming administration of a different party is coming in around this time, November, December. And so I don’t think there’s any illusion that he will be there on Inauguration Day, that when Trump is sworn in, he will continue to be at the SEC, or that he will be interested in being demoted to a commissioner,” he said.
If Gensler does step down, the SEC would likely have an acting chair in place. When the new administration takes office, the acting chair could be one of the Republican commissioners. The timing of Gensler’s departure remains uncertain, but the expectation is that a leadership change at the SEC is imminent, with a new chair likely to take over in 2025.
Ripple Vs SEC:
The SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs in December 2020, alleging that the company had raised over $1.3 billion through the sale of unregistered securities by selling XRP. Now with the latest appeals, the process is expected to take several months, and there will likely be significant legal wrangling leading up to a final decision. However, with a leadership change, there might be some clarity.
