Atkins: Prior SEC pursued crypto regulation through enforcement with antiquated rules
Paul Atkins · Investing in 2026: What You Need to Know (SEC Chairman) · Joe Lonsdale · Jan 26, 2026 · at 10:33
Paul Atkins, Chairman of the SEC, contrasts his approach to financial innovation with prior SEC leadership's regulatory handling of the cryptocurrency sector.
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“Unfortunately the SEC started by looking at crypto as maybe the ostrich with the head in the sand, as was their attitude. Like maybe this stuff will go away by the time we lift our head out of the sand. That obviously didn't happen. And then came the very basically regulation through enforcement. Where you know, the decision was made apparently that, you know, we don't like this new technology. We think that it's you're gonna, you know encourage you know, money laundering or, you know, who knows what you know, illicit finance and that sort of thing, and that you know, we're going to Ask the industry to comply with the rules and regulations from an antiquated era that really weren't apposite to the new technology.”
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