Who Is Paul Atkins And What Crypto Does He Hold?

Paul Atkins, US President Donald Trump’s pick for the SEC chair, attended a Senate hearing on 27 March regarding his potential appointment. Atkins confirmed that he owns nearly $6million in crypto-related assets.

After his re-election in November 2024, Donald Trump nominated Paul Atkins to become the new SEC chair and replace Gary Gensler. On Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, Gensler resigned from the SEC, much to the relief of the crypto community.

For years, Gensler was the most defiant villain for the US crypto industry. He led several strict enforcement actions against crypto companies, including the long-running SEC vs Ripple case.

Since Gensler’s exit, Mark Uyeda has been the acting SEC chair, and the Senate is now hearing Paul Atkins to confirm a permanent leader.

Here’s everything you need to know about Paul Atkins and his crypto holdings.

Who is Paul Atkins?

Paul S. Atkins is an American businessman and regulatory expert. He previously served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush.

Born in Lillington, North Carolina, Atkins grew up in Tampa, Florida. Atkins began his legal career at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City, focusing on corporate transactions, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He spent over two years in the firm’s Paris office and was admitted as conseil juridique in France in 1988.

From 1990 to 1994, Atkins served on the staff of SEC Chairmen Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. During this period, he worked on initiatives to enhance corporate governance, improve shareholder communications, and reduce barriers for small and mid-sized businesses to access capital markets.

As an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, Atkins advocated for transparency, consistency in enforcement, and regulations that carefully weigh costs and benefits.

After his tenure at the SEC, Atkins founded Patomak Global Partners, a consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance, risk management, and litigation support for financial services firms.

Cryptocurrency stance

Atkins is recognized for his pro-cryptocurrency stance and commitment to establishing clear, balanced regulations for digital assets. He co-chaired the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy group within the Chamber of Digital Commerce, aiming to create transparent regulatory frameworks for digital assets.

In his recent Senate confirmation hearing, Atkins emphasized prioritizing the development of a rational regulatory foundation for cryptocurrencies. He criticized prior SEC approaches and advocated for fostering innovation while ensuring investor protection.

Which crypto does Paul Atkins own?

Atkins has disclosed substantial investments in the cryptocurrency sector, totaling up to $6m. His crypto-related holdings include:

• Off the chain capital: Atkins holds an investment valued between $1m and $5m in this crypto investment firm, where he serves as a limited partner. Off the Chain Capital’s portfolio includes private stakes in prominent crypto companies such as Digital Currency Group (DCG) and Kraken.
• Anchorage Digital: He possesses equity ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 in Anchorage Digital, a cryptocurrency custody service. CoinGape+1The Daily Hodl+1
• Securitize: Atkins holds between $250,000 and $500,000 in equity in Securitize, a tokenization firm backed by BlackRock. He previously held a board position at this company.

These investments are part of Atkins’ broader financial portfolio, which, along with his spouse, amounts to a net worth exceeding $327m.

In light of his nomination and to address potential conflicts of interest, Atkins has pledged to divest from his crypto-related holdings within 90 days of his confirmation as SEC Chair.

FTX ties

Regarding connections to FTX, the collapsed crypto exchange, Atkins’ consulting firm, Patomak Global Partners, previously provided advisory services to FTX before its bankruptcy in November 2022. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Atkins about his firm’s involvement with FTX and potential conflicts of interest.

Atkins stated his intention to divest from Patomak Global Partners to mitigate such concerns but did not specify potential buyers for the firm.

Additionally, Senator John Kennedy pressed Atkins on the SEC’s role in investigating FTX and its executives, emphasizing the need for accountability and equitable enforcement of financial regulations.

Atkins’ financial disclosures and prior engagements underscore his significant involvement in the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting the importance of addressing potential conflicts as he assumes the role of SEC Chair.