YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The Trump transition team is evaluating potential candidates for the role of SEC chairman. Among the top contenders is Teresa Goody Guillén, a partner at BakerHostetler and co-leader of its blockchain practice. Her background includes serving as an attorney at the SEC and representing blockchain companies in regulatory matters.
Pro-Business Agenda and Crypto Expertise
Goody Guillén is recognized for her balanced understanding of securities laws and blockchain technology. She served at the SEC’s Office of the General Counsel between 2009 and 2011, gaining firsthand knowledge of the agency’s operations. She later joined Kalorama Partners, working alongside former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt to advise clients in regulatory challenges.
Industry professionals have also shown support for her appointment. Brendan Playford, co-founder of Masa, stated,
“She has a clear understanding of the laws, has a clear understanding of the way the SEC works. We would just have an instant change maker.”
Peers also highlighted her pragmatic approach. Charley Cooper, a senior advisor at R3, said Goody Guillén
“would govern based on substantive understanding of securities laws as they apply to the traditional markets, as well as to crypto.”
Other Potential SEC Chairman Candidates
Goody Guillén is one of several candidates being considered to replace Gary Gensler, who is expected to step down before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The Trump transition team is reviewing several other candidates to lead the SEC.
Mark Uyeda, an SEC commissioner reappointed in January, has held several roles within the agency, including advising former chairman Jay Clayton. Uyeda has criticized the SEC’s crypto policies, calling them a “disaster.” He advocates for comprehensive reform and supports a top-down review of the SEC’s regulatory framework.
Dan Gallagher, a former SEC commissioner and now Chief Legal Officer at Robinhood Markets, openly criticizes Gensler’s enforcement-focused approach. During a Congressional hearing in September, Gallagher argued that the SEC’s strategies have created regulatory uncertainty, weakened the U.S.’s position in digital asset markets, and stifled innovation.
Paul Atkins, another former SEC commissioner, served on Trump’s 2016 transition team. He now leads Patomak Global Partners and co-chairs the Token Alliance, an organization advocating for digital asset adoption. Atkins has consistently opposed enforcement-driven strategies and promotes a more collaborative approach to crypto regulation.
Other potential candidates for SEC chair reportedly include Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; Brad Bondi, a partner at Paul Hastings; and Brian Brooks, the former acting Comptroller of the Currency.
The Trump administration seeks a leader who can unwind the expanded agency policies implemented under Gensler. The goal is to curb “regulation by enforcement” and adopt a cautious approach toward applying crypto regulations until Congress passes clear legislation.
Trump Moves Quickly on Key Appointments for Second Term
Unlike Trump’s first administration, the selection process for key roles this term is moving swiftly and with greater organization, according to Washington insiders.
Trump has already named Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of the transition team, as the next Commerce Secretary. Lutnick had previously expressed interest in becoming Treasury Secretary, but that role now appears likely to go to one of three top contenders: Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group; Mark Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; or former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh.
In addition, the Trump administration has announced several notable appointments. It nominated Matt Gaetz, U.S. Representative from Florida, for Attorney General, though his selection may face resistance in Congress due to past allegations of misconduct. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth will serve as Secretary of Defense, while former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped as Director of National Intelligence. Additionally, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been named Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Notably, Goody Guillén declined to comment on her potential appointment. However, advocates highlight her capability to lead the SEC during a critical regulatory period.
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