U.S. Senator Presses Trump’s SEC Nominee on Crypto and FTX Links

In a letter ahead of Atkins’ confirmation hearing, the senator highlighted concerns about his consulting work for major crypto firms, including the now-defunct exchange.

Atkins, who founded Patomak Global Partners in 2009, has advised banks, DeFi platforms, and exchanges. Reports suggest that FTX enlisted his firm’s services in early 2022, before its collapse.

Warren raised concerns about whether Atkins was aware of the exchange’s fraudulent activities and how his deep industry ties might influence his regulatory approach.

She also took aim at Trump’s crypto dealings, including his memecoin, $TRUMP, and his ties to Justin Sun. The SEC previously accused Sun of selling unregistered securities, yet later dropped its case against him—something Warren sees as suspect, especially given Sun’s role as an advisor to a DeFi initiative backed by Trump’s family.

She pressed Atkins on whether he had discussed Sun, $TRUMP, or potential regulatory exemptions with the former president.

Atkins’ nomination comes as the SEC undergoes a major shift, rolling back past crypto enforcement actions and revising its stance on digital assets. His confirmation hearing, set alongside other key financial appointments, could face resistance from lawmakers wary of his crypto connections.