Gary Gensler, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will step down on January 20, paving the way for President-elect Donald Trump to nominate a successor.
The announcement, made on Thursday, confirms Gensler’s departure earlier than his term’s 2026 expiration date, as many had anticipated.
Appointed in 2021, Gensler spearheaded an ambitious regulatory agenda that included tightening oversight of cryptocurrencies and increasing corporate disclosures. His tenure sparked both praise and criticism for its rigorous approach. Speculation suggests Trump’s pick for the new SEC chair will likely favor Wall Street and adopt a more crypto-friendly stance.
In a statement, Gensler reflected on his time at the SEC, highlighting its commitment to protecting investors and maintaining robust capital markets. “Serving alongside such dedicated public servants has been an honor of a lifetime,” he noted.
During his leadership, the SEC implemented key reforms, including reducing settlement times for stock trades to one day, a measure partly influenced by the 2021 meme stock frenzy. The commission also pushed for enhanced transparency from publicly traded companies and financial advisors, aiming to bolster investor protections.
Bitcoin-focused investment firm Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy) is facing mounting legal pressure as at least five law firms have filed class-action lawsuits over the company’s $6 billion in unrealized Bitcoin losses.
Digital banking platform SoFi Technologies is making a strong return to the cryptocurrency space, relaunching its crypto trading and blockchain services after stepping away from the sector in late 2023.
Digital assets are gaining ground in corporate finance strategies, as more publicly traded companies embrace cryptocurrencies for treasury diversification.
Ripple has been dealt another legal blow after a federal judge rejected its attempt to ease court-imposed restrictions and penalties stemming from its long-standing battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).