Paul Atkins Holds the Key to Unlocking Crypto Markets at the SEC

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• Paul Atkins’ SEC chair confirmation is delayed due to pending financial disclosures tied to his spouse’s family and TAMKO Building Products LLC.
• Senate Banking Committee scheduled Atkins’ confirmation hearing for March 27, with a bipartisan meeting set for March 22 to prepare.

The confirmation process for Paul Atkins, former President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has been delayed due to pending financial documentation, according to reporting by Eleanor Mueller of Semafor.

Scooplet: Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott is eyeing March 27 for a committee hearing on Trump’s nominee to chair the SEC, Paul Atkins, I’m told.

As I wrote earlier this month, the committee has been waiting for the White House to send over his paperwork: https://t.co/2sDebKDIAI

— Eleanor Mueller (@Eleanor_Mueller) March 17, 2025

The White House has yet to submit required disclosures detailing Atkins’ financial ties, including those linked to his spouse’s family, which holds substantial interests in TAMKO Building Products LLC, a roofing materials firm with $1.2 billion in 2023 revenue, per Forbes.

The complexity of untangling these financial connections has prolonged the review, pushing back Senate proceedings. Despite this, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) scheduled a confirmation hearing for March 27, with a bipartisan committee meeting planned for March 22 to prepare. Mueller noted on social media that while the status of Atkins’ documents remains unclear, the March 27 hearing represents progress.

Historical context shows delays in SEC confirmations are common. Gary Gensler, confirmed in April 2021, faced a similar timeline, with his initial hearing held in early March. Atkins’ nomination was formally submitted to the Senate on January 20, following his December 2024 nomination.

Atkins, a pro-crypto advocate, supports lighter regulatory oversight compared to his predecessor. ETHNews analysts, including Bloomberg’s James Seyffart, speculate that pending cryptocurrency ETF approvals may await his confirmation. Seyffart stated that decisions on altcoin ETFs could stretch to 240 days, aligning with historical SEC practices, but added that even with Atkins in place, swift approvals are uncertain.

In the interim, acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda has initiated changes, including forming a Crypto Task Force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce and withdrawing a rule requiring crypto holdings to be classified as liabilities. The agency also dismissed several lawsuits filed under Gensler against firms like Coinbase and Robinhood.

While Atkins’ confirmation remains pending, these steps signal ongoing shifts in the SEC’s approach to crypto regulation, balancing procedural delays with incremental policy adjustments.