Paul Atkins Discloses $327M Assets Ahead of SEC Hearing

Paul Atkins, a former member of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has disclosed that he and his wife, Sarah Humphreys, hold combined assets worth up to $327 million. This disclosure comes ahead of his scheduled confirmation hearing with the US Senate Banking Committee on March 27, where he is set to face questions regarding his nomination to rejoin the SEC.

The financial disclosure report, made public by the US Office of Government Ethics on March 25, reveals that Atkins and Humphreys' assets include significant stakes in Patomak Global Partners, a consulting firm led by Atkins, and Tamko Building Products, a roofing business controlled by Humphreys' family. Atkins personally disclosed assets worth up to $78.8 million, including a membership interest in Patomak and stock options in Securitize, a real-world asset tokenization platform, and Pontoro, a financial technology company.

If confirmed as an SEC commissioner, Atkins has stated his intention to resign as CEO of Patomak and divest his membership interest, as well as his stock options at Securitize. This move is aimed at addressing potential conflicts of interest, particularly in regulating the digital asset industry. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a ranking member on the committee, has called on Atkins to be prepared to answer questions related to his involvement with high-paying crypto clients, including FTX.

Atkins' hearing on March 27 will be the first time US lawmakers consider his nomination since President Donald Trump put his name forward as a potential replacement for former SEC Chair Gary Gensler in December. Commissioner Mark Uyeda became acting chair of the agency following Gensler’s departure on Jan. 20. Atkins' nomination has garnered support from some Republican allies, including Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, who expects him to work quickly to provide regulatory certainty for the digital asset industry.

The disclosure of Atkins' assets and his potential conflicts of interest in regulating digital assets come at a time when other government officials in the Trump administration have also faced scrutiny. David Sacks, for instance, filed a notice suggesting that his venture capital firm sold more than $200 million in crypto and related stocks ahead of assuming his role as the White House AI and crypto czar. President Trump has also faced criticism due to his family’s involvement with World Liberty Financial and the launch of his memecoin in January. These developments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding conflicts of interest and regulatory oversight in the digital asset industry.