Trump's nominated SEC Chairman pick, Paul Atkins, will undergo a Senate hearing next week

On March 21st, Paul Atkins, the nominee for the Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is scheduled to attend a confirmation hearing at the Senate Banking Committee on March 27th. In the event of confirmation, the full Senate will then carry out a final vote. With a background as a former SEC commissioner, Atkins is a proponent of digital assets and previously established a financial compliance consulting firm in Washington. It is anticipated that he will maintain the pro-crypto regulatory stance that was advocated by the Trump administration and succeed former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who came under criticism for his "enforcement-heavy" approach towards the crypto industry. The same-day hearing will also feature Jonathan Gould, the nominee for Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), an agency responsible for regulating U.S. national banks, which is of great significance for crypto companies seeking bank access and the regulation of stablecoin issuance. Additionally, the Senate will be considering the nomination of Luke Pettit as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.