Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the US SEC, has disclosed up to $6m in crypto-related investments as part of his official ethics filing—offering the clearest picture yet of the incoming chair’s financial ties to the digital asset space.
The disclosure was released Tuesday by the Office of Government Ethics ahead of his confirmation hearing this week. It shows that Atkins holds equity stakes in several crypto firms. These include up to $500,000 each in Anchorage Digital and the tokenization platform Securitize.
He also reported between $1m and $5m in crypto-focused investment fund Off the Chain Capital, where he serves as a limited partner.
While none of the disclosed holdings include Bitcoin, the filing shows Atkins’ deep financial connections to crypto at a time when the SEC is reassessing its approach to the sector.
Crypto Holdings a Fraction of SEC Nominee’s Financial Footprint
Atkins’ crypto holdings make up a small part of his overall portfolio. He and his wife, Sarah Humphreys, reported total assets of up to $327m. Most of that comes from his consulting firm, Patomak Global Partners, and her family’s company, Tamko Building Products. Their combined assets could exceed $588m based on the highest disclosed estimates.
Federal ethics rules require top nominees to disclose their assets in broad value ranges. These filings help identify potential conflicts of interest before confirmation.
In Atkins’ case, his crypto ties are likely to draw attention. This is especially true as the SEC shifts its stance on digital assets and given his past advisory work for firms like FTX.
Pro-Crypto Track Record and FTX Links Put Atkins in Lawmakers’ Crosshairs
Atkins served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008. He has long supported the crypto industry’s call for clearer and more favorable regulations.
He said he will resign as CEO of Patomak within 90 days of his confirmation. The filing also says he plans to give up his equity stake in Securitize. He also plans to leave his role with the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s Token Alliance. These steps are meant to avoid conflicts of interest.
Still, his associations have raised red flags for some lawmakers.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has already called for answers about Atkins’ ties to failed exchange FTX, which is listed as a creditor of Patomak in bankruptcy filings. In her letter this week, Warren pressed Atkins to clarify the scope of his advisory work and to explain how he intends to maintain impartiality in overseeing crypto markets.
Atkins’ predecessor, Gary Gensler, entered office with a net worth of up to $119m and took a more combative stance toward crypto, launching multiple enforcement actions during his tenure. Atkins’ nomination, by contrast, signals a shift in tone—one that’s already being reflected in the SEC’s recent decisions to drop or pause several high-profile crypto cases.
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