According to Cointelegraph, United States lawmakers in the Senate Banking Committee are making a final push to confirm Caroline Crenshaw for another term at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before the Democratic majority ends in January. Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown, who will exit Congress on January 3, has scheduled a nomination vote for Crenshaw on December 18. Initially, the committee planned to vote on December 11 on her nomination by President Joe Biden.
Senator Brown attributed the delay in the nomination decision to Republican senators allegedly acting on behalf of corporate special interests, possibly including the cryptocurrency sector. The Cedar Innovation Foundation, a dark money group with crypto ties, has reportedly urged lawmakers to oppose Crenshaw's nomination. Crenshaw, a Democrat and SEC commissioner since 2020, was nominated for a second term by President Biden in June. However, the Senate has yet to consider her nomination before the shift to Republican control in January.
Opponents of her confirmation argue that Crenshaw is more anti-crypto than SEC Chair Gary Gensler, citing her vote against the approval of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in January. The urgency to confirm Crenshaw is heightened as she could become the sole Democratic SEC member following the departures of Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga and Chair Gensler in January. Supporters of Crenshaw's nomination have expressed concerns that Donald Trump might neglect to nominate additional commissioners, potentially leaving the SEC under complete Republican control.
Under Gensler's leadership, the SEC has pursued numerous enforcement actions against crypto firms, accusing them of offering and selling unregistered securities through certain tokens. This approach has faced criticism from the industry, with some suggesting it contributed to Democrat Kamala Harris's loss in the presidential election to Trump in November. As new members of the US Senate and House of Representatives are sworn in on January 3, Republicans will gain majority control in both chambers. Senator Brown, who lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno, will be succeeded as banking committee chair by current ranking member Tim Scott.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who secured reelection against Republican John Deaton, will become the top Democrat on the banking committee following Brown's departure. The committee plays a crucial role in shaping policies and laws that could affect the crypto and blockchain industry. Trump has indicated his intention to nominate former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins to replace Gensler as chair. While many in the crypto industry support Atkins, his nomination would require a Senate majority to pass.