The Senate Banking Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider the re-nomination of Democrat Caroline Crenshaw, who is currently a commissioner on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
If confirmed, Crenshaw would serve on the commission through 2029. But if not, former President Donald Trump could seize the opportunity to nominate an alternative.
Crenshaw, known for his closeness to SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, has been a strong advocate for stricter climate reporting regulations during his tenure and has consistently opposed cryptocurrency initiatives, including voting against approving Bitcoin ETFs.
His opposition to Bitcoin Spot ETFs in particular has garnered a lot of attention. After the SEC approved a series of rule changes that would allow Bitcoin-based products to be traded on national exchanges, Crenshaw issued a strongly worded statement opposing the move. He called the decision “unsound and anachronistic,” arguing that it undermines the SEC’s duty to protect investors.
“The ETPs that will be activated by today’s decision are inextricably tied to the Bitcoin spot markets,” Crenshaw said at the time, adding: “The fraud and manipulation that impacts the spot BTC price will almost certainly impact the spot BTC price held in ETPs. Substantial evidence suggests that these markets are not secure.”
SEC Chairman Gary Gensler will resign on January 20, and Trump has nominated cryptocurrency-friendly Paul Atkins to replace him.
*This is not investment advice.
