Gary Gensler to leave SEC in January 2025
Trump’s administration plans to appoint more crypto-friendly regulators, with Summer Mersinger, a Republican CFTC commissioner advocating leniency in crypto policies, as a potential candidate for a top position.
Gary Gensler, the chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will step down on 20 January 2025, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Gensler, who led the agency since 2021, is known for his stringent regulatory approach towards cryptocurrency. Under his leadership, the SEC pursued over 100 enforcement actions against crypto firms, aiming to bring compliance to what he described as an industry of 10,000 unregistered securities.
Trump, who has pledged to transform the US into the “crypto capital of the world,” plans to appoint more crypto-friendly regulators, including a new SEC chair. Summer Mersinger, a Republican CFTC commissioner advocating for leniency in crypto policies, is a potential candidate for a top regulatory position. Reports also suggest that Trump is considering establishing a White House post focused on cryptocurrency policy.
Gensler’s departure follows the earlier resignation of Gurbir Grewal, the SEC’s chief enforcer known for his rigorous oversight of the crypto sector. With Trump’s pro-crypto agenda, the leadership shake-up signals a potential regulatory shift, aiming to foster innovation and growth in the digital asset space.
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