Tyler Winklevoss urges crypto rules written under Atkins and Selig, not a ‘new Gensler’

Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, urged that crypto regulations be established under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Brian Selig rather than risk a future 'new Gensler,' citing the need for clear rules before the political window closes. He highlighted the CLARITY Act and noted that the SEC and CFTC are prepared to issue joint rules even if the act fails, with President Trump having met with both chairs to discuss implementation.

Via artreview.com Tyler Winklevoss urges crypto rules written under Atkins and Selig, not a ‘new Gensler’ Gemini's co-founder wants the current SEC and CFTC chairs to set crypto's regulatory foundation before the political window closes Tyler Winklevoss has a simple ask for Washington: write the crypto rulebook now, while the people holding the pen are actually willing to use it. The Gemini co-founder put it directly, arguing that crypto regulations should be established under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Brian Selig rather than left to whoever might follow them. His concern is that a future administration could install someone with a worldview closer to former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose tenure became synonymous with enforcement actions over regulatory guidance. Why the Gensler comparison still stings Gensler’s four-year run at the SEC was defined by what critics called regulation by litigation. Instead of issuing clear rules about which digital assets qualify as securities, the agency sued first and explained later. The strategy left exchanges, token issuers, and institutional desks operating in a fog, never quite sure whether their next product would trigger a federal complaint. For Winklevoss personally, it was not abstract: Gemini spent years in direct conflict with the SEC over its yield-bearing Earn product. Selig’s path to the CFTC chair is equally relevant here. He previously served as chief counsel for the SEC’s own crypto task force under Atkins, making him one of the few regulators with deep institutional knowledge of both agencies’ perspectives on digital assets. That cross-agency background matters because the central jurisdictional question in crypto, whether a given token is a commodity or a security, sits exactly at the boundary the two regulators share. The CLARITY Act and what comes with or without it The legislative backdrop to Winklevoss’s argument is the CLARITY Act, a bill designed to draw a clearer line between the SEC’s and CFTC’s authority over digital assets. As of mid-2026, the Senate and industry groups are still deliberating over its provisions, and its passage is not guaranteed. Selig has committed to finalizing digital asset regulations before the current administration ends, a pledge that implies a sense of urgency inside the CFTC that was largely absent under prior leadership. Perhaps the most consequential detail buried in the current discussions: the SEC and CFTC are prepared to issue joint rules even if the CLARITY Act fails to pass. President Trump has met with both Atkins and Selig to discuss the CLARITY Act’s potential implementation, signaling that the White House is at least nominally engaged in moving the process forward. Winklevoss’s stake in the outcome It is worth being clear-eyed about the fact that Tyler Winklevoss is not a disinterested observer here. Gemini operates a major US crypto exchange and custody business, and regulatory clarity would directly benefit its ability to launch new products and attract institutional clients. That said, his advocacy has been consistent and specific, not just generically pro-crypto. His support for Selig’s confirmation was notable precisely because it came after he and his brother Cameron had opposed another nominee, Brian Quintenz, for a CFTC leadership role. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy https://cryptobriefing.com/editorial-policy/ .