Gary Gensler Moves from Crypto Crackdown to AI Research at MIT

After years of shaping financial regulations, Gary Gensler is shifting his focus from crypto enforcement to artificial intelligence.

The former SEC Chair is returning to MIT Sloan School of Management, where he will research AI’s role in finance and policy. His background in Wall Street, government oversight, and technology gives him a unique perspective on the evolving financial landscape.

At MIT, Gensler will co-lead the FinTech AI @ CSAIL initiative, working with Professor Andrew W. Lo and industry partners to explore AI’s financial applications. This marks a return to academia for Gensler, who previously taught blockchain courses at MIT and studied AI-related financial risks.

His time at the SEC was defined by aggressive enforcement, with over 125 actions against crypto firms, earning him a divisive reputation. However, he also oversaw the approval of crypto ETFs, expanding institutional access to digital assets.

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Not everyone welcomes his return to MIT. Uniswap Foundation’s Devin Walsh, an MIT graduate, criticized the decision, calling it a waste of resources for students focused on innovation. Despite the backlash, Gensler’s shift to AI research signals his continued influence on the future of finance and technology.

Alexander Zdravkov