All-Republican SEC leaves path clear for pro-crypto rulemaking

Caroline Crenshaw has left the US Securities and Exchange Commission, leaving the agency composed solely of Republican commissioners — a shift the report says leaves "nothing standing in the way of pro-crypto rulemaking." Republicans in Washington are described as generally more friendly to the crypto industry, and the SEC reportedly made a "180-degree turn" after President Trump entered office and Congress advanced landmark crypto legislation.

The Senate is set for a markup vote on a crypto market structure bill one week into 2026. The commission remains bound by notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures, which observers say must be followed to avoid legal challenges. Crenshaw was described as the commission's last crypto-skeptic, having dissented on the decision to allow Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024; she was confirmed to the SEC in August 2020.

The Senate Banking Committee canceled a vote to renominate her in December 2025, reportedly after intense lobbying from the crypto industry. At publishing time the SEC had three commissioners, all Republicans: Chair Paul Atkins, Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda.

Key Topics

Crypto, Sec, Caroline Crenshaw, Paul Atkins, Hester Peirce, Mark Uyeda