Crypto lobby considers ideal Biden picks for SEC, CFTC, OCC

The crypto lobby seems to be cautiously optimistic about Biden’s potential picks to lead the U.S.’s regulatory environment. 

That is, at least, according to a Thursday discussion hosted by TRM labs, featuring the executive directors of the Blockchain Association and Coin Center — respectively Kristin Smith and Jerry Brito. The pair got into a discussion of who they hope the Biden administration nominates to top regulatory agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, given that Janet Yellen seems to be a shoe-in to get the top spot at the U.S. Treasury. 

Smith said she hoped for more regulators who had worked alongside the crypto industry, à la current OCC leader Brian Brooks. She reasoned that despite some lingering stigma surrounding the industry, the actual legal professionals making it happen are an impressive crew: 

“If you look at the regulatory professionals, the general counsels that sit in the cryptocurrency space, these are very talented people who have worked in government previously, who have worked at top law firms, who are thoughtful. These aren’t fly-by-night, making-it-up-as-they-go-along professionals.”