An article in the WSJ suggests that the U.S. SEC may ease up on its legal battle against cryptocurrency exchanges once Trump returns to the White House. Although Trump has not yet revealed the next SEC chairman, there are rumors that multiple contenders are vying for the position after Gary Gensler resigned.
The next SEC chairman may come from a group of experienced regulators and legal giants, each of whom can bring unique expertise. Paul Atkins, who served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 and currently leads the financial advisory work of Patomak Global Partners, is seen as a popular candidate. In addition, Mark Uyeda has attracted attention since 2022 for his pro-cryptocurrency stance, which is consistent with Trump's regulatory views.
Former Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks and former SEC General Counsel Robert Stebbins have also become strong contenders. Legal heavyweights Richard Farley and Norm Champ have also joined the competition.