President Trump’s appointment of Acting SEC Chair signals a pro-crypto shift, with promises of clearer regulations to foster innovation and economic growth.

Acting SEC Chair Pushes for Clearer Crypto Regulation, Replacing Gensler’s Tough Stance

President Donald Trump has appointed Mark T. Uyeda as Acting Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the agency announced on Jan. 21. Uyeda, who has served as an SEC Commissioner since 2022, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating:

I am honored to serve in this capacity after serving as a Commissioner since 2022, and a member of the staff since 2006. I have great respect for the knowledge, expertise, and experience of the agency and its people.

Since joining the SEC, Uyeda has played an integral role in shaping policy and fostering market stability. Highlighting the SEC’s broader role, he remarked: “The SEC has a vital mission—protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation—that plays a key role in promoting innovation, jobs creation, and the American Dream.”

Trump has nominated Paul Atkins, a former SEC Commissioner known for advocating lighter regulatory policies, as the permanent Chair of the SEC. Atkins’ appointment is pending Senate confirmation, a process that typically spans several months. In the interim, Uyeda serves as the acting SEC Chair.

In contrast to his predecessor, Gary Gensler, who described the cryptocurrency market as “the Wild West,” Uyeda has promoted collaboration and clearer regulatory guidelines for digital assets. Criticizing the SEC’s prior “policy through enforcement” strategy, he called it “a disaster for the whole industry.”

Many crypto supporters welcome Uyeda’s appointment. Chris Giancarlo, former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), commented: “American capital markets are in great hands with Mark Uyeda as Acting SEC Chairman. A Commission veteran with experience across Washington, he is smart, competent and effective. He’ll immediately begin repairing a sadly damaged agency & bring it back into service for American economic growth and prosperity.”