Crypto Lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén in Consideration as Next SEC Chair

Teresa Goody Guillén, a seasoned expert with prior experience at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is reportedly under consideration by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the agency, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Currently a partner at BakerHostetler and co-lead of its blockchain practice, Guillén has garnered support from crypto companies advocating for her appointment.

Her dual perspective—stemming from her tenure at the SEC and her work representing blockchain firms and traditional Wall Street players—positions her as a candidate capable of driving meaningful regulatory change.

Brendan Playford, co-founder of Masa, a decentralised data provider for AI, remarked that her leadership could prompt immediate reforms at the SEC:

"She is the best candidate of all the people that are currently being opined on.”

He continued:

“She has a clear understanding of the laws, has a clear understanding of the way the SEC works. We would just have an instant change maker that would dramatically transform the industry with someone that's very pro-crypto.”

Gullien's Consideration Allegedly Follows Coinbase CEO's Private Meeting with Trump

The Trump transition team appears receptive to input from the crypto industry, which spent over $130 million supporting the former president and other Republican candidates during the campaign.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reportedly held a private meeting with Trump to discuss personnel appointments, though the specific agenda remains undisclosed.

This development aligns with Trump's earlier pledge to establish a Bitcoin and crypto advisory council to craft regulatory guidelines for the sector.

Among the candidates vying to replace SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who is expected to step down before Trump's inauguration on 20 January, is Guillén.

Gensler, who recently referred to his role in the past tense, would follow the tradition of SEC chairs resigning during presidential transitions.

Trump had previously vowed to "fire" Gensler on his first day in office.

Guillén faces competition from a notable shortlist that includes Robert Stebbins of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Brad Bondi of Paul Hastings, former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins, Robinhood Chief Legal Officer Dan Gallagher, and former Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks.

As Trump fills key cabinet and senior positions, the crypto community is watching closely for signals about the administration's regulatory stance.

Guillén Fits Trump's Profile of What Entails for a SEC Chair

Guillén's tenure at the SEC as an attorney for the Office of the General Counsel (2009–2011) coincided with Mary Schapiro's historic appointment as the agency's first female chair.

Following her time at the SEC, Guillén served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Kalorama Partners, working alongside former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt to counsel clients facing SEC enforcement actions.

The Trump transition team is reportedly seeking a pro-business, reform-minded leader to helm the SEC, prioritising an overhaul of the agency.

This includes rolling back the expansions under Gensler's tenure and ending the controversial "regulation by enforcement" approach.

For the crypto industry, the team seeks a chair who understands digital assets and will exercise caution in applying securities laws until Congress enacts clear legislative guidelines.

Insiders suggest Guillén, who was recently selected as a SEC Enforcement Elite lawyer for her work as defence counsel, aligns with these priorities, making her a strong candidate.

Charley Cooper, senior advisor at digital asset solutions provider R3 and a former chief operating officer at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said:

“She is understated … but she's tough as hell. She would govern based on substantive understanding of securities laws as they apply to the traditional markets, as well as to crypto, and she will dramatically roll back the prior administration's default to regulating through enforcement and arbitrarily reading into statutes written 90 years ago."

Peers, including Nicole Trudeau, General Counsel at Wave Digital Assets, who has collaborated with Guillén on crypto-related bankruptcies and SEC receiverships, praise her expertise and pragmatic approach.

Her background positions her as a compelling choice for the SEC's next chapter.

Trudeau pointed out:

“Teresa is a true trailblazer in the crypto space, bringing the expertise and vision needed to lead the SEC and drive the growth of U.S. crypto and capital markets. She embodies everything President Trump envisioned for the sector.”

Less than a week prior, Guillén shared a quote from Abraham Lincoln on X (formerly known as Twitter) and said that the US and crypto markets will do well under Trump.

Trump's Rapid Hiring Spree

The Trump administration's second-term transition process is notably swift and structured, according to Washington insiders.

A new SEC chair is anticipated to be named before Thanksgiving, underscoring the urgency of key appointments.

Among the latest cabinet announcements, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick has been selected as Commerce Secretary, following his earlier push for the Treasury Secretary role.

That position is reportedly being contested by Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent, Apollo Global Management CEO Mark Rowan, and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh.

Trump's selections have included several polarising figures, such as US Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for Attorney General—a nomination expected to face congressional pushback due to past allegations of misconduct.

Other appointees include former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, former US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hi.) as Director of National Intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

With new names emerging almost daily, the pace of these appointments demands close attention.