Anti-Crypto SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw To Depart, No Plans For Reappointment

In a potential win for the crypto industry, the Senate Banking Committee has canceled its vote on the reappointment of US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, known for her critical stance on Bitcoin and other digital assets. 

This development, reported by FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett, means that Crenshaw will not secure a nomination for her position, as Congress is scheduled to adjourn on December 20.

SEC Commissioner Crenshaw Faces Backlash Over Digital Asset Oversight

According to Terrett, a Senate aide indicated that the scheduled markup vote for Crenshaw’s reappointment has been canceled. While she remains on the commission and can serve until a replacement is confirmed or Congress reconvenes next year, her future in the role has been cast into uncertainty.

The process for nominating SEC commissioners typically involves the minority party–in this case the Democratic Party– recommending candidates to fill its seats. Although President Trump can consider their suggestions, he is not obligated to follow them. 

This leaves open the possibility that Democrats, potentially at the urging of influential figures like Elizabeth Warren, may attempt to revive Crenshaw’s nomination. Ultimately, it will be up to Trump to decide whether to renominate her.

This cancellation comes amid increasing pressure from cryptocurrency lobbyists and industry leaders who have publicly denounced Crenshaw’s record. Critics argue that her support for SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s oversight of the industry has been detrimental. 

Crenshaw’s characterization of crypto markets as “petri dishes of fraudulent conduct” and her dissent against the approval of Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have further fueled opposition.

More Anti-Crypto Than Gensler? 

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, voiced strong criticism of Crenshaw last week, stating, “Caroline Crenshaw was a failure as an SEC Commissioner and should be voted out.” He noted her attempts to block Bitcoin ETFs and suggested she was even more problematic than Gensler on certain issues. 

Armstrong also emphasized that any support for Crenshaw could negatively affect senators’ ratings on the Stand with Crypto scale, an initiative created by a Coinbase-affiliated group to assess political figures based on their support for cryptocurrency legislation.

In response to Crenshaw’s perceived anti-crypto stance, the Cedar Innovation Foundation, an industry-backed nonprofit, also launched a five-figure mobile ad campaign targeting her in Washington D.C. and on social media. The ads label her “more anti-crypto than Gensler.” 

Furthermore, last Monday, leaders from the Blockchain Association and the DeFi Education Fund sent a joint letter to Senate Banking leadership opposing Crenshaw’s reconfirmation. 

They stated, “Congress has a clear mandate from the American people to establish sound and reasonable cryptocurrency-related policies,” expressing concern that Crenshaw’s tenure has been marked by actions contrary to this objective.

Crenshaw’s alignment with Gensler on progressive regulatory initiatives, such as the climate disclosure rule aimed at requiring public companies to report their carbon footprints, has also caused friction with Republican lawmakers. They argue that the SEC has overstepped its congressional mandate by engaging in social issues like climate change.

With the recent cancellation of her renomination vote, the efforts of crypto lobbyists appear to be bearing fruit. The industry now anticipates the appointment of a more crypto-friendly commissioner to succeed Crenshaw in 2025, which could signal a more favorable regulatory environment for digital assets in the United States.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com