At His First Roundtable After Taking Office
"Shifting Toward Cooperation"
Paul Atkins, the newly appointed Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has emphasized the need for regulatory review of the cryptocurrency industry, signaling a departure from the previous administration's approach.
Atkins, speaking at his first cryptocurrency roundtable since taking office on April 25 (local time), stated, "Over the past several years, the SEC has fostered regulatory uncertainty, hindering innovation in the cryptocurrency industry," and stressed the necessity of reviewing the existing regulatory framework.
He particularly noted, "Market participants utilizing cryptocurrency technology deserve clear regulatory guidance," adding, "We will shift from adversarial regulation to a new, cooperation-focused regulatory direction." This indicates an intention to adopt a differentiated approach from the Biden administration, which was centered on regulation and enforcement.
The industry views Atkins as a 'pro-cryptocurrency' figure with experience in the fintech sector. President Donald Trump has also pledged to ease cryptocurrency regulations, leading to expectations that the SEC's policy stance will change following the launch of the new administration.
In fact, the SEC has recently shown signs of withdrawing lawsuits and easing penalties against the industry, such as reaching a settlement in its long-standing legal battle with the Ripple Foundation.
Meanwhile, when asked about the Trump family's cryptocurrency business activities, Atkins declined to comment, saying, "I have nothing to say." President Trump's eldest and second sons established 'World Liberty Financial' last year and have since issued Trump meme coins, among others.
He also expressed a hardline stance regarding foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, that do not comply with U.S. regulations, stating, "If necessary, we will not hesitate to delist them."
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