The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced four senior appointments on Friday, including two officials with experience in the cryptocurrency sector. This initiative reflects a friendlier approach to digital assets by the Commission under the leadership of Chairman Paul Atkins.
According to an announcement from the SEC, Jamie Selway will assume the role of Director of the Division of Trading and Markets starting June 17. Meanwhile, Brian T. Daly will begin his role as Director of the Investment Division effective June 8.
SEC is focusing on experts in the cryptocurrency field.
Daly joined the SEC from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he served as a partner in the investment management sector. According to his official biography, Daly has extensive experience in digital assets, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and traditional financial services, including hedge funds and credit funds.
Previously, the Financial Times quoted Daly's views on the SEC's decision to reverse the Biden administration's guidance, known as SAB 121, requiring banks to treat digital assets held for customers as liabilities on their balance sheets. He argued that the old regulation facilitated responsible banking brokers and financial intermediaries to become cryptocurrency custodians. He also emphasized that custodial services are a prerequisite for financial institutions when providing cryptocurrency services to customers.
Daly expressed optimism about the new phase of the SEC and the desire to collaborate with Chairman Atkins and other colleagues. He is committed to ensuring regulatory compliance for investment advisers and fund managers, while also streamlining the rulemaking process within the SEC's legal framework.
The SEC also noted that Selway was a partner at Sohron Advisors, where he advised clients on capital market issues. According to his LinkedIn profile, Selway has previously advised many fintech companies and served as Global Director of Institutional Markets at Blockchain.com from 2018 to 2019.
“Chairman Atkins is starting a new chapter at the SEC. I thank him for choosing me to lead the Division of Trading and Markets during this exciting and important time. Together, we will advance the mission of the SEC and facilitate innovation for the benefit of investors in the country,” Jamie Selway.
Additionally, the SEC also announced that Erik Hotmire will return to the role of Director of External Affairs and Director of Public Relations, effective June 16, 2025. Chairman Atkins believes that Hotmire's experience will help market participants and investors better understand the SEC's priorities and actions. Previously, he served as a senior adviser and spokesperson for then-SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, as well as a senior adviser for the SEC's Enforcement Division.
Kurt Hohl has been appointed as the chief accountant, with nearly 40 years of experience in accounting and auditing, effective July 7. The agency stated that interim chief accountant Ryan Wolfe will return to the role of chief accountant in the Enforcement Division. Hohl has also served as the interim chief accountant since January 2025 while concurrently holding the position of chief accountant of the Enforcement Division.
Chairman Atkins is aiming for a more friendly approach to cryptocurrency.
Chairman Atkins was sworn in on April 22, three months after former chairman Gary Gensler left the position. Since taking office, he has committed to a more friendly approach to digital assets.
The SEC held its first roundtable meeting of the Cryptocurrency Working Group in March to discuss the future regulation of digital assets. A16z's chief cryptocurrency lawyer, Miles Jennings, stated at the time that he did not think anyone could convincingly argue that the previous administration's approach had achieved any of the SEC's goals. He also emphasized that that approach did not lead to investor protection, capital formation, or the creation of efficient markets.
Miles has called on the agency to improve its approach as it has clearly failed. He noted that Gensler had been more cautious with the industry, viewing most cryptocurrencies as securities and had brought numerous charges against major investors in the cryptocurrency space.
