Paul Atkins was sworn in as the new chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday, April 21 , according to a statement from the regulator. A former SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 and known for his business-friendly stance, Atkins steps into the role during a period of sweeping regulatory shifts. Atkins’ confirmation by the full Senate followed a narrow 13-11 vote by the Senate Banking Committee earlier this month. He is expected to continue a strong deregulatory push , building on the work of interim chief Mark Uyeda, who had already started rolling back crypto-related lawsuits and paused efforts to defend climate disclosure rules. Committee Chair Tim Scott previously praised Atkins for aiming to refocus the SEC on its “core mission,” particularly by offering clarity for digital assets and encouraging capital formation . Atkins’ return also signals a potential reversal of several policies implemented during Gary Gensler’s term, especially around ESG rules and crypto oversight. However, Democrats remain critical , with Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighting Atkins’ controversial decisions during the 2008 financial crisis and accusing him of aiding figures like former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried in his private consulting role. Atkins’ influence may soon reach beyond crypto and climate policies. He’s expected to reduce the SEC’s involvement in the activities of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and slow down the aggressive regulatory agenda of the PCAOB , which intensified under Gensler. These changes could ease compliance burdens, something welcomed by many in the auditing profession.
