TechFlow reported, citing Unchained, that Vice President Kamala Harris's transition team is considering two candidates to replace current Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. The two candidates are Georgetown University law professor Chris Brummer and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Chair Erica Williams, both believed to hold more positive views toward cryptocurrency. According to sources, Harris has not yet publicly or privately committed to replacing Gensler, as her team currently prioritizes voter mobilization efforts.
Brummer has been described as "the biggest settlement offer for crypto." He founded Bluprynt this past spring, a company focused on regulatory compliance for crypto firms, particularly whitepaper compliance under Europe's MiCA regulations. Brummer was previously nominated by the Obama administration to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and was considered a leading contender for CFTC chair during the Biden administration.
Although Williams has spoken less publicly on cryptocurrency issues, under her leadership PCAOB established an inspection team dedicated to emerging audit risks, including those related to cryptocurrency. She previously served as chief of staff to three SEC chairs and handled financial and economic policy in the Obama administration.
Sources indicate that both candidates support a progressive vision for financial regulation and advocate for cryptocurrency legislation, while also committing to rigorously cracking down on misconduct within the industry. Their reportedly more collaborative working styles stand in stark contrast to Gensler, who is widely perceived as difficult to work with.
