The Senate Banking Committee has postponed a vote on Paul Atkins and other nominees for SEC Chairman, with no specific date set for the decision. The delay follows the committee’s traditional process of allowing candidates to answer questions submitted for the record before moving on to a vote. “Senate aides have announced that the Senate Banking Committee will not vote on Paul Atkins or any other nominees today. Nominees will be asked to answer questions for the record prior to the vote. The vote will be held at a later date and the exact date will be determined,” crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Atkins, a former SEC commissioner and advocate for digital assets, was initially scheduled to appear at a confirmation hearing on March 21. If approved by the committee, her nomination to head the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would be put to a vote in the Senate. Related News: Watch Out: There's a $12 Billion Option Expiration Earthquake in Bitcoin Tomorrow - Here's What to Know Atkins, who has a background in supporting financial innovation and previously founded a compliance consulting firm in Washington, is expected to advocate for a more crypto-friendly regulatory approach, marking a shift from former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s enforcement-focused policies that were criticized by industry leaders. Atkins reportedly has around $6 million in cryptocurrency assets and a total fortune of $320 million. Eleanor Terrett tweeted that Paul Atkins said he would abandon the previous administration's heavy-handed approach to law enforcement: “Industry experience and focused enforcement are necessary to ensure that customers and investors benefit from efficient, effective, and well-designed regulations. Our SEC mission should be to encourage these efforts and, when necessary, to use law enforcement to address and correct intentional conduct.” *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Will the New SEC Chairman Be Announced Today? Here’s the Latest, Most Likely Candidate and Cryptocurrency Background
