New SEC Chair Paul Atkins Faces Heat Over Crypto Regulation and Political Bias

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The U.S. SEC is again entering a controversial phase under new Chair Paul Atkins. In his first major congressional appearance, Atkins faced tough questions about the agency’s handling of crypto fraud cases, particularly its pause in proceedings against Justin Sun and the growing political noise around meme coins tied to Donald Trump. The hearing spotlighted concerns about regulatory inconsistency, lack of transparency, and possible political misuse.

Lawmakers Raise Eyebrows Over Justin Sun and Meme Coins

During the May 20 House Appropriations Committee hearing, Rep. Glenn Ivey questioned why the SEC appeared to slow-roll its fraud case against Sun, who recently disclosed he’s a top holder of a Trump-themed meme coin. This came after Tron’s $30 million token purchase from a Trump-inspired crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. While Atkins confirmed the case remains active, he avoided offering specific details, fueling speculation about external influence or internal hesitation.

New Chair Signals Shift in SEC’s Crypto Strategy

This sudden shift is quite fishy for senators, even though Atkins’ presence has been seen as a positive shift from Biden-Gensler’s restrictive move. In his testimony, he stressed the need for structured guidelines around issuance, custody, and trading of digital assets. His emphasis on policy-making rather than litigation hints at a softer stance going forward.

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Crypto Task Force and Upcoming Policy Moves

The SEC’s Crypto Task Force, now led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, is expected to release its first report in the coming months. Atkins revealed little about the task force’s resource allocation but confirmed that efforts are underway to propose actionable regulatory steps. Meanwhile, with the Senate advancing the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin-focused bill, Washington may be inching closer to a unified crypto policy.

With political interests, meme coin mania, and high-profile names tangled in crypto’s rise, the SEC’s next steps under Atkins could reshape the regulatory landscape ahead of the 2024 elections.