Paul Atkins, founder and CEO of Patomak Global Partners LLC, speaks during an interview with Bloomberg Television at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on Monday, May 1, 2017.
David Paul Morris | David Paul Morris Bloomberg | Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump, delivering on his promise of a cryptocurrency-friendly government, plans to nominate former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins to lead the agency, According to his Truth Society post.
Atkins, currently CEO of Patomak Global Partners, is a well-known veteran in finance and Republican politics. He is widely expected to take the job at the top U.S. financial markets regulator.
If confirmed, Atkins would succeed Gary Gensler, who is widely known in the digital currency community for his repeated efforts to bring down the $3.5 trillion cryptocurrency market. Criticize. Markets have been surging since Trump won the election on Nov. 5 on his promise to provide an easier path for Bitcoin and its many cousins.
Trump’s stance on cryptocurrencies reflects his generally supportive stance on deregulation when he first took office.
Atkins served as SEC commissioner from 2002-08 under then-President George W. Bush. Prior to this, he also held other roles within the regulator’s corporate finance department.
In addition to taking a pro-crypto stance, the would-be nominee has also been critical of some of the reforms that emerged out of the 2008 global financial crisis. .
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
