Atkins Sworn in as SEC Chair, Pledges "Firm Foundation" for Digital Assets

Paul Atkins, a seasoned financial regulator with a history of advocating for market transparency and business-friendly policies, was sworn in as the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the White House on Tuesday, the agency announced in a statement .

Atkins, who previously served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Upon taking office, he expressed his commitment to advancing the SEC's mission of facilitating capital formation, maintaining fair markets, and protecting investors.

"I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC," Atkins stated. "As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors. Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business."

Prior to his return to the SEC, Atkins was the chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a consulting firm he founded in 2009. He also served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015, demonstrating his extensive experience in navigating complex financial markets.

During his previous tenure as an SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush, Atkins emphasized transparency, consistency, and the use of cost-benefit analysis in regulatory decisions. He also represented the SEC at high-level meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council.

Atkins' deep understanding of regulatory frameworks extends beyond his time at the SEC. From 2009 to 2010, he served as a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Before his initial appointment to the SEC, he consulted on securities and investment management industry matters, focusing on strategy, regulatory compliance, risk management, and new product development.

His career also includes a significant period working within the SEC itself, serving on the staff of chairmen Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt from 1990 to 1994, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor, respectively.

Atkins began his legal career in New York, specializing in corporate transactions for both U.S. and foreign clients, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He also spent two and a half years in his firm's Paris office and was admitted as a conseil juridique in France.