On May 14, according to financefeeds, former House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry stated that former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler's attitude towards digital assets is much more moderate in private than in public settings.
Patrick McHenry mentioned in the "American Cryptocurrency" podcast that in private discussions, Gensler expressed appreciation for the potential of blockchain and digital assets—which stands in stark contrast to his aggressive regulatory stance while leading the SEC. McHenry recalled that Gensler often referred to his time at MIT, when he taught blockchain and digital currency courses, and saw the value of digital assets and understood blockchain technology.
Others who worked with Gensler during his academic career have also confirmed this perspective. Sei Labs' General Counsel Gerald Gallagher pointed out that Gensler contributed to the early conceptualization of token airdrops—a detail rarely mentioned in his public biography.
