SEC Anti-Crypto Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw Departs After Five Years

Crypto-critic SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has officially stepped down today after serving the agency for more than a decade. Her departure comes as part of the end of her term, during which she has consistently opposed cryptocurrencies and advocated for aggressive enforcement actions.

Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission is left with an all-Republican panel. This marks a significant shift in the regulatory watchdog’s composition, potentially introducing a more crypto-friendly environment in the United States.

Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw Leaves SEC

As announced by SEC Chair Paul Atkins, the official tenure of SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has finally ended today. After more than a decade, the crypto-critic commissioner is leaving the agency, marking a significant change in the commission. While the SEC is now left with only Republicans, with the departure of the last Democratic Commissioner, the US is poised to see a dramatic shift in the crypto regulatory space. The SEC’s official statement read,

“Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has devoted more than a decade of distinguished service to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Over those years, she has been a steadfast advocate for the agency’s mission – demonstrating clarity of purpose and generosity of spirit. Commissioner Crenshaw has listened carefully, engaged substantively, and approached every day with the purpose of safeguarding investors and strengthening our markets.”

With this development, the US SEC is likely to focus more on crypto growth and innovation in the country. This is further reiterated by Paul Atkin’s previous statement that the SEC’s top priority is crypto regulation.

Towards the end of 2025, there were speculations of Caroline Crenshaw serving another term at the SEC. However, the US Senate Banking Committee later canceled the scheduled vote on the commissioner’s renomination, putting an end to Caroline Crenshaw renomination speculations.  

Crenshaw- A Vocal Critic of Crypto

Notably, Caroline Crenshaw was a significant voice against cryptocurrencies within the SEC. She has consistently made bold comments against loosening crypto regulations in the US. The Commissioner has also raised her voice against the agency’s major crypto-related policies. For instance, when the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, Caroline Crenshaw was the lone dissenter.

In addition, ahead of the XRP ETF approval, Caroline Crenshaw voted against crypto ETPs. While the commission held 13 internal votes on crypto ETPs, all of which passed 3-1. Despite the commissioner’s strong objection, the XRP ETF was later approved.

For Crenshaw, investor safety was of prime importance. This made her strongly oppose crypto, citing security and volatility concerns. She has always highlighted inadequate regulatory oversight over crypto, which she believed could lead to growing scams and other threats.