Catenaa, Monday, September 29, 2025- US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins said Thursday his agency would enforce laws addressing conflicts of interest in the cryptocurrency sector.
This comes amidst scrutiny of President Donald Trump and his family’s crypto ventures.
Speaking at Georgetown University’s Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy, Atkins emphasized the SEC’s role in regulating where necessary without commenting on specific companies.
Atkins responded to student questions about potential conflicts of interest, acknowledging that the SEC will investigate and “root them out” where applicable.
His comments come after reports highlighted the Trump family’s involvement with World Liberty Financial, a crypto company linked to two deals involving US artificial intelligence chip approvals to the United Arab Emirates and MGX’s $2 billion investment in Binance via WLF’s USD1 stablecoin.
While the SEC does not currently oversee WLF directly, Atkins stressed that statutes guide the agency’s actions.
He reiterated that conflicts of interest in political circles do not impede the SEC’s mission to regulate the industry.
Since assuming the chairmanship in April, Atkins has signaled a more crypto-friendly stance than predecessor Gary Gensler, introducing initiatives such as an innovation exemption aimed at fast-tracking on-chain products and Project Crypto, which seeks to modernize SEC rules around digital assets.
The agency has also clarified that certain staking activities, including most proof-of-stake features, fall outside its regulatory scope.
Atkins said these efforts are intended to provide clarity for legal opinions, industry guidance, and investor confidence while balancing enforcement where laws require.
