Senate Banking Committee Delays Vote on Paul Atkins Nomination

The Senate Banking Committee has postponed its vote on Paul Atkins’ nomination as the next chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Eleanor Terrett, journalist and host of the Crypto in America podcast, reported the news via X, citing a Senate aide.

According to the aide, the committee will not vote today on Atkins or other nominees, which is considered common practice. Instead, nominees must provide written responses to committee questions before a markup vote, the date for which has yet to be determined.

> 🚨NEW: A Senate aide tells me there will be no committee vote today on Atkins or other nominees, as is typical practice. Nominees will be required to answer questions submitted for the record ahead of a markup vote. The vote will come at a later date, TBD. Link to original tweet
> — Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) March 27, 2025

Atkins’ Nomination and the SEC’s Shifting Stance

Atkins, nominated by President Donald Trump to succeed former SEC chair Gary Gensler, faced the Senate’s banking committee on March 27. Lawmakers also conducting a confirmation hearing for Jonathan Gould, nominated to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Gensler’s tenure at the SEC is viewed negatively, particularly regarding his anti-crypto stance. His regulatory approach, characterized by enforcement actions, has led the SEC to sue multiple crypto companies. However, the SEC is reportedly looking to move away from this strategy. Several cryptocurrencies experienced gains following Gensler’s resignation.

Despite Gensler’s exit, regulatory matters continue to dominate discussions in the crypto space. Recent actions to withdraw lawsuits and cease investigations highlight this ongoing focus.

Facing the banking committee’s questions, Atkins has emphasized that under his leadership, the SEC will prioritize regulatory clarity.

> “A top priority of my chairmanship will be to work with my fellow commissioners and Congress to provide a firm regulatory foundation for digital assets through a rational, coherent, and principled approach,” Atkins stated in his prepared testimony.

While the Senate’s delay on his nomination is notable, there is a sense of anticipation within the crypto ecosystem that his confirmation is inevitable. Until then, interim chair Mark Uyeda continues to guide the SEC in a direction that industry players find favorable.

Read more: Avid crypto advocate and investor Paul Atkins will soon become the SEC chair: What to expect.