U.S. House Representative To Introduce Legislation Seeking To Oust SEC Chairman Gary Gensler
Warren Davidson, the U.S. representative for Ohio, has announced plans to introduce new legislation aimed at removing Gary Gensler, the current chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move came in response to a tweet by Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s legal chief, in which he shared statements from SEC commissioner Hester Peirce criticizing the agency’s stance on the crypto sector.
Davidson intends to replace the role of the SEC chair with an Executive Director who will report to the Board. However, former SEC chairs will not be eligible for the position. This follows the SEC’s announcement that it plans to review the definition of an “exchange” under its rules, which has sparked political attacks against Gensler.
The crypto industry has been facing challenges for quite some time, with the SEC being one of the main regulatory bodies that have been trying to stifle the growth of the emerging technology.
For example, Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, has been fighting a legal battle with the SEC since 2022 over allegations of selling XRP without registering it as security. Similarly, Paxos, the issuer of the stablecoin BUSD, is also being accused of issuing an unregistered security.
Current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has become one of the most unpopular government officials in the crypto space due to his restrictive stance against cryptocurrencies. Gensler believes that many digital assets can be classified as securities and thus, fall under the purview of the SEC. His stance is to protect consumers investing in crypto.
Going back through time in the history of SEC Chairpersons, Gary Gensler is the only who is associated with a focus for crypto regulation. Of course, crypto digital assets are a recent monetary phenomenon (post-2010), but nonetheless highlight the evolving priorities of SEC Chairpersons and evolution in a new age of digital money.
| SEC Chairman | Dates in Office | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph P. Kennedy | 1934-1935 | Creation of the SEC and establishment of financial regulation |
| James M. Landis | 1935-1937 | Creation of SEC divisions and modernization of securities law |
| William O. Douglas | 1937-1939 | Advocacy for shareholder rights |
| Jerome Frank | 1939-1941 | Focus on enforcing securities laws |
| Edward C. Eicher | 1941-1946 | Implementation of fair and consistent regulation |
| Edwin W. Pauley | 1946-1947 | Expansion of SEC jurisdiction and regulations |
| Philip A. Hart | 1947-1949 | Emphasis on protecting investors |
| Thomas B. McCabe | 1949-1953 | Focus on disclosure and financial reporting |
| Harry A. McDonald | 1953-1955 | Modernization of SEC practices and procedures |
| William L. Cary | 1971-1972 | Implementation of disclosure and enforcement reforms |
| Harold M. Williams | 1977-1981 | Introduction of new rules to protect investors |
| John S. R. Shad | 1981-1987 | Expansion of SEC enforcement powers |
| Richard C. Breeden | 1989-1993 | Focus on improving financial transparency and regulation |
| Arthur Levitt | 1993-2001 | Advocacy for increased investor protection and disclosure |
| Harvey L. Pitt | 2001-2003 | Expansion of SEC oversight and enforcement |
| William H. Donaldson | 2003-2005 | Implementation of new rules and regulations |
| Christopher Cox | 2005-2009 | Advocacy for improved corporate governance and accountability |
| Mary L. Schapiro | 2009-2012 | Focus on financial reform and investor protection |
| Elisse B. Walter | 2012-2013 | Implementation of new rules to improve market transparency |
| Mary Jo White | 2013-2017 | Expansion of SEC enforcement powers and regulations |
| Jay Clayton | 2017-2020 | Focus on improving access to capital markets and enforcement |
| Gary Gensler | 2021-present | Focus on cryptocurrency regulation and investor protection |
Mr. Gensler’s strict regulatory stance is not limited to the SEC alone.
The White House has also laid out a roadmap to mitigate the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, highlighting the need for increased regulation and oversight to protect investors. Despite the challenges faced by the crypto industry, it continues to grow and evolve, with many supporters advocating for a balanced approach to regulation that allows for innovation while ensuring consumer protection.
