The SEC has been the center of attention in many news, especially when crypto is involved. The current SEC administration led by Gary Gensler has been the subject of anti-crypto accusations. It is safe to say the crypto community at large is not happy with how things are being run. In light of the incoming Trump administration, rumors have been held that the president-elect will choose different candidates to head the commission, and we just got one more candidate added to that rumored list.

Crypto-focused media outlet Unchained now has Paul Atkins as the latest person linked to the post of SEC Chairman. According to the site, three strong sources revealed that Donald Trump has picked Paul Atkins himself. 

The prediction platform Kalshi also released a report that aligned with that news. In a Dec 3 X post, the platform revealed that the odds of Atkins being picked by Trump for the job rose to 93%, the strongest number for any candidate rumored for that same role. 

Considering Atkins’ past roles, it may not be impossible for him to get the job. He already worked at the SEC under the administration of George W. Bush. He also currently serves as the Chief Executive of the strategy and risk management consulting agency Patomak Global Partners.

While Atkins’ odds would eventually drop to 90%, he still stands way above other rumored candidates, such as former acting comptroller of the currency Brian Brooks and former SEC attorney Teresa Goody Guillen. 

While the president-elect's team or Atkins' office have not confirmed a job offer from Trump, different reports have been circulating.

A report from Politico on November 27 stated that Trump’s team had called in Atkins for an interview with the president-elect, and according to unnamed sources, Atkins was reluctant to take up the offer. 

CoinDesk also reported that “a person familiar with Atkins’ thinking” reported that the offer is “an unattractive role for him because of the amount of work needed to turn around the bloated agency.”

According to one of Unchained’s sources, Trump already offered Atkins the job but is still waiting for Atkin’s response. So far, there have been no confirmations from both parties. However, according to Unchained, a spokesperson from Trump’s transition team has stated that:

remaining decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made.

Atkins is no stranger to crypto. His bio on the Patomak website states that he has “to develop best practices for digital asset issuances and trading platforms as Co-Chair of the Token Alliance,” a crypto industry advocacy group established in 2017. 

Considering Trump’s promised crypto-friendly approach, Atkins might be an ideal candidate. However, even if Trump picks Atkins, his appointment would be subject to Senate approval, although there is a rumor that Trump could speed up his appointment with a recess appointment.

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