Overview
- Caroline Crenshaw departed on January 3 after more than five years as a commissioner, ending Democratic representation at the SEC.
- The agency now has three Republican commissioners and open seats with no announced Democratic nominee to fill the vacancy.
- Under Paul Atkins, the SEC has recently paused or dismissed several high-profile crypto enforcement actions and increased industry consultations.
- Representative Maxine Waters has called for congressional hearings to examine the SEC’s crypto case dismissals and recent policy changes.
- Crenshaw, a prominent crypto skeptic who dissented on spot Bitcoin ETF approvals, saw her renomination falter after a Senate Banking Committee vote was canceled in late 2024.