Ripple's chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, called the SEC leadership change “a new day,” a phrase that surprisingly echoed new Chair Atkins’ own words. Fresh from Ripple’s partial legal win against the SEC, Alderoty hinted at a turning point in the agency’s stance. Unlike his predecessor Gensler, Atkins is expected to bring regulatory clarity and reduce politicization. Whether strategic or symbolic, the SEC's tone is shifting — and the next step is substance.