Wall Street Consultant Paul Atkins Confirmed to Lead SEC (1)

The US Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, ushering him into the role only a week after President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs unleashed market turmoil.

Atkins, approved Wednesday in a 52-44 vote, is expected to scale back regulation, reduce corporate disclosures and make SEC rules friendlier toward cryptocurrency companies, which battled in court with predecessor Gary Gensler. The new chair will also need to monitor the volatility triggered by the trade levies.

Atkins is a familiar face at the SEC’s headquarters. He served as a commissioner from 2002 to 2008, a ...