SEC’s Crypto Policy Shift Under New Leadership

Gary Gensler's tenure at the SEC was marked by aggressive enforcement against crypto, framing most tokens as securities and emphasizing investor protection. His departure coincided with President Trump's inauguration, leading to an immediate reversal under new chair Paul Atkins. The SEC now adopts a lighter touch, dropping high-profile cases and streamlining ETF approvals.

The regulatory pivot signals a stark departure from Gensler's approach. "Very few tokens are securities" has become the new mantra, contrasting sharply with the previous default classification. Market participants interpret this as an open invitation for crypto business, with enforcement actions dwindling and processes accelerating.

Trump's influence extends beyond crypto, with proposals to eliminate quarterly reporting requirements. The changes reflect a broader deregulatory agenda, leaving Gensler's MIT retreat as a symbolic endpoint to his contentious chapter at the SEC.