Democrats Blast SEC Chair Atkins Over Crypto Enforcement

Democratic lawmakers attacked SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, arguing he has shifted enforcement policy in ways that favor the crypto industry and raise oversight concerns ^[4][1].

Atkins defended efforts to reduce what he described as an overly burdensome regulatory regime — telling lawmakers he targets roughly $2.7 billion in annual compliance costs for public companies and framing the changes as a way to encourage IPOs ^[3]. Opponents at the hearing said loosening policing "is not good for crypto" and warned such moves could undermine investor confidence amid recent market stress and scrutiny of presidential crypto dealings ^[2].

The exchange underscored sharp partisan divisions over crypto oversight: Democrats pressing for stricter enforcement and the SEC chair advocating lower regulatory costs to spur capital formation and listings ^[1][4][3].