The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced new senior appointments on June 13, 2025, signaling potential shifts in crypto regulation under Chairman Paul Atkins.

Jamie Selway will become director of the Division of Trading and Markets starting June 17. He previously worked at Sophron Advisors and served as global head of institutional markets at Blockchain.

Brian T. Daly will take over as director of the Division of Investment Management on July 8. Daly comes from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain matters.

The SEC also appointed Erik Hotmire as chief external affairs officer and Kurt Hohl as chief accountant.

Chairman Atkins, who took over in April, has indicated plans for a more collaborative regulatory approach toward digital assets.

🔗 Source: The Block

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ The pendulum swing in crypto regulation reflects broader policy cycles

The SEC’s new appointments represent a significant regulatory shift that has historical precedent in financial regulation.

This shift from Gary Gensler’s enforcement-heavy approach to Paul Atkins’ more supportive stance follows a pattern seen in previous transitions between administrations with different regulatory philosophies1.

Atkins has explicitly criticized previous approaches as either “ignoring crypto assets or relying on ad hoc enforcement,” emphasizing instead the need for “clear rules” through formal rulemaking rather than enforcement actions1.

The establishment of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force signals an institutional approach to regulation rather than the case-by-case enforcement that characterized previous years, potentially creating more predictable market conditions2.

This shift resembles historical regulatory cycles seen in other financial innovations, where initial strict oversight often gives way to more calibrated approaches as technologies mature and regulators gain expertise.

2️⃣ Industry expertise increasingly shapes regulatory approach

The appointment of officials with crypto experience represents a growing trend of incorporating industry knowledge into regulatory frameworks, with both Selway and Daly bringing practical understanding of digital asset markets.

Selway’s background includes advising fintech companies and serving as global head of institutional markets at Blockchain, while Daly has expertise in digital assets, cryptocurrency, and blockchain alongside traditional financial services1.

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