U.S. President Trump's nominee for the new SEC Chairman, Paul Atkins, recently declared cryptocurrency-related investments totaling up to $6 million, drawing high market and congressional attention. He promised that once confirmed, he will resign from all crypto-related positions and holdings within 90 days to avoid conflicts of interest.

Holding Stakes in Multiple Crypto Companies, Atkins Reveals Deep Connections

According to the ethics filing document from the U.S. Government Ethics Office (USOGE) released on Tuesday, Atkins disclosed his crypto asset investment portfolio, including equity holdings in crypto asset custodian Anchorage Digital and on-chain securities issuer Securitize, each ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.

Additionally, he is a limited partner in the crypto investment fund Off the Chain Capital, with an investment value between $1 million and $5 million. Even without directly holding cryptocurrencies, this document demonstrates his deep involvement in the blockchain sector.

Vast Financial Landscape, Crypto Investments Just the Tip of the Iceberg

According to the filing, Atkins and his wife Sarah Humphreys' total family assets are approximately $327 million to $588 million. Assets primarily come from his consulting firm Patomak Global Partners and his wife's family business Tamko Building Products.

It's clear that crypto investments represent only a small part of his financial landscape, becoming a focus due to the sensitivity of his position.

As a former SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, Atkins has always supported establishing a more clear and friendly regulatory environment for the crypto industry:

I plan to resign as Patomak's CEO, relinquish Securitize stock, and exit all other related roles within 90 days of confirmation to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

(Trump Nominates Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman, Bitcoin at 99K, ETH Above 3,800)

Warren: Atkins' Past FTX Connections Raise Concerns

However, concerns remain among some congressional members, including his past advisory relationship with FTX, and questions about whether the Trump team and TRON founder Justin Sun received SEC protection.

Crypto-opposing congresswoman Elizabeth Warren has publicly requested that Atkins clarify his collaboration with the bankrupt FTX exchange and explain how he will maintain impartiality in future regulatory actions:

Your deep relationship with FTX raises concerns about your ability to regulate fairly and whether you were aware of its internal conditions. If FTX had complied with U.S. securities laws, could these customers have avoided losses?

Notably, FTX listed Patomak as a creditor in its bankruptcy documents, further raising questions about Atkins' ability to distance himself from his previous advisory role.

(Anti-crypto Senator Warren Closely Scrutinizes SEC Chairman Nominee Atkins, Highlighting Conflicts with FTX, Justin Sun, and Trump's Crypto Interests)

New Chairman Signals Regulatory Shift, SEC Friendly Oversight Anticipated

Unlike the previous chairman Gary Gensler's hard-line stance against cryptocurrencies, Atkins' nomination and the statements by SEC Crypto Project Team Leader Hester Peirce are seen as indicators of a changing SEC attitude.

Recently, the SEC has suspended or withdrawn multiple crypto asset-related lawsuits, reflecting a policy shift. If Atkins is successfully appointed, he will likely bring more policy growth and development opportunities to the industry.

(U.S. SEC to Repeal Biden Crypto Policy! Acting Chairman Uyeda and Crypto Mom Peirce Jointly Developing Alternative Solutions)