Key Insights:
- The #FireGaryGensler hashtag has gained traction on Twitter, with industry figures criticizing Gensler’s actions as the SEC Chair.
- U.S. Representative Warren Davidson plans to introduce legislation aimed at removing Gary Gensler from his position.
- The SEC’s move to redefine “exchange” has faced criticism from the crypto community, including SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.
The hashtag “#FireGaryGensler” has received support from a number of prominent players in the sector, including Toney Edward, the creator of the Thinking Crypto Podcast. Edward has accused Gensler of targeting regulated and legal organizations while neglecting to take action against suspected fraudsters. The hashtag has been trending on Twitter.
Gary Gensler was accused by Toney Edward, the creator of the Thinking Crypto Podcast, of not taking action against suspected fraudsters while targeting genuine organizations. Edward pointed out that Gensler was unsuccessful in preventing frauds perpetrated by FTX and others but that the company is now targeting regulated firms attempting to behave ethically.
Removing Gensler: Proposed Legislation
U.S. Representative Warren Davidson announced on April 16 that he intends to introduce legislation with the purpose of removing Gary Gensler from his position as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This announcement came in response to comments by Coinbase’s legal chief Paul Grewal, who criticized the SEC’s attempts to broaden the definition of an “exchange.”
Davidson made the announcement on Twitter that he intends to file legislation to replace the post of SEC Chair with one held by an Executive Director who is accountable to the Board of Commissioners. He also claimed that the prior chairperson of the SEC would not be eligible for the new post, which is intended to rectify a history of abuses in the commission’s operations.
For decentralized finance platforms and other non-traditional exchanges, the possible repercussions of the SEC’s endeavor to redefine the word “exchange” might have a significant and far-reaching effect. This has further inspired Davidson to call for Gensler’s resignation and maybe a driving reason behind the #FireGaryGensler movement on Twitter. Davidson’s motivation comes from the fact that Gensler’s work has been widely criticized.
Gensler defends SEC’s proposed amendments
According to Gensler, the modifications to the regulations that have been suggested might enhance market conditions and safeguard investors. This would be accomplished by subjecting certain brokers to a higher level of regulatory monitoring and bringing the definition of an exchange into the current era. Despite this, these ideas have been met with pushback from the cryptocurrency community, many members of which think that the SEC is acting beyond its authority.
“Crypto Mom” Hester Peirce, a well-known advocate for cryptocurrencies, has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the amendments. On April 14, she stated that the SEC’s recent actions would encourage “stagnation, centralization, expatriation, and extinction” of the technology.
