• Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s CLO and former SEC commissioner, is seen as the top candidate for the next SEC Chair.
• Hester Peirce, known as crypto mom, is a popular choice but has stated she’s not interested in the SEC Chair role.

With Donald Trump’s recent U.S. presidential win, the global crypto community is buzzing with expectations over the next Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In the July campaign, Trump promised crypto supporters that he would fire the current SEC chair, Gary Gensler, “on day one” of his presidency. Gensler, known for his strict regulatory approach to digital assets, replaced him with someone more favorable to the industry.

Now, attention has turned to who will lead the SEC, with former SEC commissioner Dan Gallagher becoming visible as the frontrunner.

According to a recent Reuters report, Trump’s team is considering Gallagher, Robinhood’s current chief legal and compliance officer, as a potential replacement. Gallagher served as a Republican SEC commissioner from 2011 to 2015 and is reportedly a favorite among crypto industry leaders. These executives contributed significantly to Trump’s campaign, hopeful that a new SEC chair might bring a lighter regulatory touch to digital assets.

SEC Chair Contenders and Crypto Industry Expectations

Recently, Gensler, who has led the SEC with a “regulation by enforcement” strategy, has faced criticism from many in the crypto space. However, his term is set to end in 2026, and he has reportedly indicated he would step down when the new administration begins.

Though Gallagher is a top contender, the Trump transition team is preparing a shortlist of candidates for each financial regulatory agency. Another name that has come up is former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, who worked on Trump’s 2016 transition team.

Additionally, Mark Uyeda, an SEC Commissioner, is also under consideration. However, Hester Peirce, a current SEC Commissioner known as “Crypto Mom” for her pro-crypto stance, has hinted she is not interested in the role despite her popularity within the crypto industry.

As the transition unfolds, crypto enthusiasts await further developments, hopeful that the 47th President Trump’s new SEC appointee will usher in a more supportive era for the industry.

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