Former SEC general counsel Stebbins on Trump's short list to lead the agency as other contenders emerge
Quick Take Key names, including former SEC Commissioner and Robinhood Chief Legal Officer Dan Gallagher, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins and partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher Robert Stebbins, could all be reportedly tapped to lead the SEC. As of Tuesday morning, a person familiar with SEC chairmanship talks said that Trump’s team had not yet made a decision.
According to multiple news reports, four names have consistently been on the list: former SEC Commissioner and Robinhood Chief Legal Officer Dan Gallagher, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher Robert Stebbins and partner at Paul Hastings Brad Bondi. Other names have also been floated.
As of Tuesday morning, a source familiar with SEC chairmanship discussions indicated that Robert Stebbins is on the "short list," though the Trump team has yet to make a final decision. Stebbins previously served as the SEC's general counsel.
A spokesperson for Trump said that decisions will be announced as they are finalized.
“President-Elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration. Those decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made," said Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance transition spokesperson in an emailed statement.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has said he would fire Gensler. Sources have said Gensler would likely step down as other chairs have done in the past, but he could decide to stay on as a commissioner at the SEC.
Who's got next?
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the next SEC chair should be former Commodity and Futures Trading Commission Chair Chris Giancarlo, Brooks or Gallagher, in a post on X shortly after Trump was elected. However, Giancarlo has since indicated he is not interested in the SEC chairmanship.
"As for reports that I’m in mix to run @SECGov, I’ve made clear that I’ve already cleaned up earlier Gary Gensler mess @CFTC and don’t want to have do it again," Giancarlo said in a post on X on Nov. 14.
Former SEC enforcement lead John Reed Stark detailed his thoughts in a post on X on Nov. 16. Atkins and Gallagher were both good to work with and would take a "similarily cautious and thoughtful approach to crypto," Stark said. Bondi would also be, like Gallagher and Atkins, "one of the most qualified and effective SEC nominees in history."
"... I am on the record as being vehemently anti-crypto and Brad probably has the exact opposite position — but in this instance, I truly don’t care," Stark said. "Brad will transform the SEC from a vilified schoolyard bully into a respected, reflective and crypto-industry friendly institution -- though he will be "'tough but fair.'"
The SEC chair will be the "most critical position for crypto" that Trump will select, said Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith in a post on X on Tuesday.
"The chair must be a known quantity committed to undoing the damage of the last 4 years, have expertise on crypto–and share Trump’s vision of making the US the crypto capital of the world," Smith said.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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