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PAUL ATKINS OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS SEC CHAIR, SIGNALS SHIFT TO CRYPTO-FRIENDLY APPROACH
Paul Atkins was sworn in on Monday as the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), marking a significant shift toward a more crypto-friendly regulatory stance.
Atkins’ appointment signals a departure from former Chair Gary Gensler’s aggressive enforcement strategy against digital asset firms. In his opening remarks, Atkins reaffirmed the SEC’s mission to promote capital formation, ensure fair markets, and protect investors.
He emphasized the need for clear and consistent regulation, stating that his experience in both public service and the private sector has shown him how regulatory uncertainty can stifle innovation.
Atkins To Exit Patomak Following SEC Appointment And Crypto Focus
Atkins, who founded Patomak Global Partners in 2009 to help develop digital asset standards, pledged to step down from his role at the firm within 90 days. His nomination passed narrowly, with 52 Republican votes in favor and 44 Democrats opposing.
Senator Elizabeth Warren had previously pressed Atkins to disclose Patomak’s advisory work with crypto companies, including ties to the collapsed FTX exchange.
During his Senate confirmation, Atkins criticized previous regulatory approaches as overly complex and politicized. He committed to leading the SEC with what he described as a “rational and principled” framework, aimed at fostering innovation rather than hindering it.
Atkins takes over from Gensler, whose tenure was marked by numerous lawsuits against crypto firms for alleged securities violations.
Since Gensler’s departure, acting Chair Mark Uyeda and Commissioner Hester Peirce have already moved to dismiss many of these cases and eased oversight on sectors like meme coins and crypto mining.
Known for his strong Wall Street connections, Atkins’ financial disclosures revealed investments of up to $5 million in digital asset firm Off the Chain Capital LLC. With a combined net worth of approximately $327 million, Atkins becomes one of the wealthiest SEC chairs in recent history.
As the SEC transitions under Atkins’ leadership, it faces a backlog of over 70 crypto-related ETF applications involving assets like Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and MELANIA. Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas summed up the sentiment on X, saying, “Gonna be a wild year.”
SEC Changes Crypto Enforcement Strategy
Last month, the SEC officially ended its investigation into Australian-based crypto gaming firm Immutable, bringing a significant chapter in the company’s regulatory journey to a close.
The SEC’s move to close the Immutable case is part of a broader trend in its crypto enforcement strategy. In recent months, the agency has also dropped investigations into other major crypto firms, including OpenSea, Uniswap, Robinhood, and Gemini.
To enhance regulatory clarity, the SEC has also launched a crypto-focused task force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce.
Meanwhile, Ripple is nearing the end of its own legal battle with the SEC. A March 26 update confirmed Ripple will not pursue a counter-appeal after the SEC agreed to drop its appeal earlier this month.
The company will pay a reduced fine of $50 million, down from the initially proposed $125 million.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: 99Bitcoins
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ECB FLAGS RISK OF FINANCIAL CONTAGION FROM US CRYPTO PUSH
The ECB is calling for changes to MiCA, only months after the regulatory framework was implemented.
The European Central Bank (ECB) raised an alarm over potential fallout from aggressive US support for the crypto industry, warning that a surge in dollar-backed stablecoins could destabilize Europe’s financial system.
According to a policy paper seen by Politico, the ECB has asked for a revision of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies just months after it came into effect.
The concern is that US reforms backed by President Donald Trump could flood European markets with dollar-denominated stablecoins.
The ECB fears this could trigger a flight of European capital into US assets, undermining EU financial sovereignty and exposing banks to liquidity risks.
ECB and European Commission clash over MiCA rules
While the ECB calls for tighter controls, the European Commission dismissed the warnings as exaggerated, per the report.
The report, citing two diplomats and one EU official, said that the existing MiCA framework is robust enough to manage stablecoin risks despite potential US policies like the Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy (STABLE) and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS), two bills aimed at expanding America’s crypto footprint.
“The Commission was quite clear that they had different views on this topic,” and “not very many (countries) supported the idea that we should now jump the gun and start making quick changes in (the rules) based on this alone,” one of the diplomats reportedly told Politico.
The stablecoin sector now commands a valuation of $234 billion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
The ECB warned that European issuers could face redemption pressures from EU and foreign holders without stricter limits, potentially sparking a financial “run” and harming exposed institutions.
“The worry is warranted,” Mikko Ohtamaa, co-founder and CEO at Trading Strategy, said in a post on X. “However, the EU had the first mover advantage with the regulation and they screwed it up.”
Ohtamaa said no EU stablecoin is globally competitive due to MiCA’s restrictive rules, which are influenced by bank and legacy finance lobbying.
Tether remains a major critic of MiCA
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDt (USDT), has long been a critic of the EU’s MiCA regulation.
Last year, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino argued that MiCA’s requirements, particularly the mandate for stablecoin issuers to hold at least 60% of reserves in EU bank accounts, could introduce systemic risks to both stablecoins and the broader banking system.
Due to noncompliance with MiCA, USDT has faced delistings from major European exchanges, including Coinbase, Crypto.com and Kraken.
@ Newshounds News™
Source: CoinTelegraph
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