“Common Sense” Returns to SEC Under Atkins, Peirce, and Uyeda

Paul Atkins has been chosen as the new Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by President-elect Donald Trump, joining Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda. The announcement drove Bitcoin (BTC) to hit $100,000 for the first time in history.

Dubbed the “dream team” by attorney Jeremy Hogan of Hogan & Hogan, the trio is expected to bring “common sense” and investor protection back to the SEC. Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, commented on X (formerly Twitter) that this leadership could significantly benefit crypto firms like Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance.

In his nomination announcement, Trump highlighted Atkins’ extensive experience, including founding Patomak Global Partners, a risk management consultancy, and serving as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008. Trump praised Atkins as a “proven leader for common sense regulations” who recognizes the importance of digital assets and their role in building a stronger economy.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse lauded Trump’s decision, stating that the time has come to “end the prohibition era on crypto” and focus on restoring economic freedom and innovation.

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Crypto Community Cheers Bitcoin’s Surge

The news of Atkins’ appointment helped propel Bitcoin to $102,000—a record-breaking milestone. The SEC’s prior lawsuits against Ripple and other firms have cast uncertainty over the industry. However, the crypto community flooded the X platform with calls for the SEC to drop these lawsuits under Atkins’ leadership.

Hester Peirce, going by “Crypto Mom,” acknowledged on X that the SEC has a “lot of work ahead” after years of disruption under the previous chair. She expressed confidence in Atkins’ ability to steer the agency toward innovation-focused policies.