Senate Advances Atkins, Gould for Financial Roles

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has advanced President Trump's nominees, Paul Atkins for the SEC Chair and Jonathan Gould for the Comptroller of the Currency, both positions crucial for future crypto regulation. The committee votes were 13-11 along party lines, with all Democrats opposing. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Atkins for his past actions before the 2008 financial crisis and his advisory role with the failed crypto exchange FTX. Despite the opposition, the nominations now move to the full Senate for confirmation, where Atkins' pro-crypto stance is anticipated to influence the SEC's future direction. The process could be expedited given the Republican majority, potentially allowing Atkins to assume office promptly after confirmation. The nominations also included other key roles in the Treasury and Federal Transit sectors.