SEC Appoints Crypto Expert Jamie Selway as Trading and Markets Director

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has appointed Jamie Selway as the new director of its trading and markets division. Selway, a seasoned professional in the crypto industry, previously held positions at Blockchain.com and Skew, a crypto analytics platform acquired by Coinbase. His extensive experience includes roles at Goldman Sachs, where he served as an associate, and at Silvertrain AI. Most recently, Selway worked at Gradient, a financial services firm that leverages AI technology.

SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins highlighted Selway's extensive industry experience in market structure and across various asset classes, emphasizing his suitability for this critical role. Selway expressed his commitment to promoting the SEC's mission and fostering innovation to benefit the nation's investors.

In addition to Selway's appointment, the SEC announced that Brian T. Daly will lead the division of investment management. Daly, formerly a partner at a prominent law firm, has authored papers and given talks on crypto regulation, indicating his deep understanding of the regulatory landscape in the crypto space.

The SEC under the current administration has adopted a more crypto-friendly approach, aiming to foster innovation and address regulatory ambiguities left by previous administrations. This shift aligns with the administration's campaign promises to support the crypto industry and its financial backing from business leaders in the space.

In contrast, during the previous administration, the SEC targeted several prominent American digital asset brands with lawsuits. The former Chair Gary Gensler repeatedly asserted that most coins and tokens fell under the definition of a security. However, with the current administration, the SEC has established a crypto task force and assembled a digital asset-friendly team, leading to the discontinuation of nearly all lawsuits and investigations targeting crypto firms.