- Paul Atkins disclosed his assets ahead of his Senate hearing.
- Lawmakers will likely question his ties to the industry and his past work with financial firms.
- A change in leadership could change how the SEC handles digital assets in the future.
Paul Atkins has disclosed assets worth at least $327 million ahead of his Senate hearing. He has financial holdings in the consulting firm Patomak Global Partners. In addition, his wife’s family is associated with Tamko Building Products. The disclosures, made before his Senate confirmation hearing, have triggered conflict of interest questions.
Atkins is also CEO of Patomak, where he has up to $50 million in membership interest. He also holds a call option between $250,000 and $500,000 for Securitize, which tokenizes real world assets. He is also a limited partner in Off the Chain Capital and has invested between $1 million and $5 million.
His financial disclosures also showed that he has invested in crypto custodian Anchorage Digital worth more than $3 billion. The disclosure has raised concerns that his financial stakes might influence his vote if he is confirmed as SEC chair.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has argued that the past roles of Atkins may cause a conflict of interest if he has to oversee the companies he previously worked for. In a letter, Warren asked that Atkins should recuse himself from SEC matters dealing with former clients. Similarly, he can choose to forego SEC-related work for the next four years in the financial industry.
Crypto and Market Impact Under an Atkins-Led SEC
Atkins previously served as a commissioner from 2002 to 2008. His style is unlike that of his predecessor Gary Gensler who enforced enforcement measures against crypto firms. If confirmed, Atkins could shift the agency’s handling of digital assets, which has been a subject of debate among lawmakers.
His connections to crypto firms are concerning some senators, especially from his past clients, such as FTX. They believe these relationships could also determine how he would vote on enforcement actions and the cases around digital assets. But for others, his appointment marks the opportunity to clearly define rules for an industry that was in confusion for quite some time.
The SEC, under Mark Uyeda, has been doing its part to adjust the approach taken by the agency. Recent roundtable discussions with industry players indicate that the agency may relax its enforcement approach to crypto cases. The outcome of Atkins’ confirmation may signal a continuation or shift.
What to Expect from the Hearing
Senators are expected to grill him on his fortunes during his confirmation hearing. Democratic senators have indicated that they will grill him about his previous work with firms and whether he can remain impartial.
However, some Republican lawmakers, like Senator Cynthia Lummis, are in support of his nomination. Lummis believes that Atkins could help guide the industry in areas where clearer policy on digital assets is needed. The SEC is under pressure to make a decision on pending issues, including whether to approve spot ETFs for large digital assets like XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin. Atkins has pledged to divest from certain investments and resign from key positions to address concerns about impartiality.
