Anti-Crypto SEC Commissioner Steps Down After a Decade of Service

Highlights:

• Anti-crypto SEC commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has officially resigned from the agency.
• Her exit leaves the SEC with a Republican-only panel, shifting its crypto stance.
• The agency is expected to adopt a more innovation-driven approach to digital assets.

Anti-crypto SEC commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has officially resigned her role at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Her resignation comes after more than 10 years of service. Crenshaw was famous due to her firm opposition to the growth of digital assets.

The SEC issued an official announcement commending her service. The agency noted that “Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has dedicated over ten years of exemplary service.” The agency also noted her discipline and commitment to investor protection.

Her resignation has left the SEC with an all-Republican panel. This temporary change ushers in the possibility of more crypto-friendly policy. The White House has yet to announce a new nominee. Moreover, the commission currently does not have Democratic representation.

In her era, she strongly opposed spot Bitcoin ETFs. It is worth noting that in 2024, she was the only vote against the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETF. Crenshaw was a skeptic even after the crypto regulations evolved. She frequently cautioned about fraud, volatility, and weak investor security. Her consistent stance in her role gained her the title of an anti-crypto SEC commissioner.

Political Changes Drive Regulatory Realignment

With the re-election of President Trump, the landscape of SEC leadership took a new shape. Since then, he has appointed additional crypto-friendly individuals to strategic roles. Additionally, Trump has publicly endorsed the adoption of crypto, saying that he wants the U.S. to become a global hub.

This broad reorganization of federal financial agencies includes the departure of Crenshaw. There were also significant changes in the leadership of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Its previous acting chair, Caroline Pham, resigned to become part of a crypto company, leaving the agency understaffed. Michael Selig, who is the current chair of CFTC, was sworn in last December.

Several investigations have been paused or terminated completely, implying the abandonment of an aggressive crackdown on digital assets. Almost 60% of activities related to crypto have lost momentum since January 2025, according to a report in December 2025.

Representative Maxine Waters, however, recently raised concerns regarding the decisions from the SEC. She noted that the agency weakens investor protection by dropping the cases. She further questioned whether the SEC shifted the enforcement priorities due to political influence.

A Shift in the SEC’s Direction and Crypto Regulation

In late 2024, the Senate Banking Committee canceled the renomination vote of Crenshaw. This move made it clear that her term would not be renewed. As a result, the anti-crypto SEC commissioner concluded her term without renewal.

The agency recognized her dedication, although several people in the crypto community disagreed with her position. Her opinions were usually in conflict with the rising trend of crypto adoption. Still, she remained firm in her belief that digital assets posed risks.

This change follows the previous exit of Gary Gensler, another crypto-critic. The new leadership by Chair Paul Atkins embraces digital asset innovation. Atkins has referred to crypto regulation as a top priority. His leadership consequently marks a significant shift from the previous direction of the agency.