SEC’s Gary Gensler seeks for more staff, resources to regulate crypto

SEC chair Gary Gensler asked U.S. lawmakers for greater resources to increase his agency’s staff count during a hearing that took place on March 29.

Gensler appeared before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Service and General Government. There, he discussed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) budget request for the 2024 fiscal year.

SEC needs staff to oversee crypto industry

Though Gensler discussed several matters, he specifically mentioned cryptocurrency as one justification for greater staffing. He stated that the SEC has seen a “Wild West of the crypto markets, rife with noncompliance” and said his agency must grow with the industry.

Gensler said the SEC’s Division of Enforcement must deal with innovations in the crypto sector and elsewhere that have led to misconduct. He said the SEC aims to combat this problem by increasing the division’s staffing and obtaining new “tools, expertise, and resources.”

Gensler also said he intends to expand the SEC’s Division of Examinations, which helps ensure that companies comply with regulations. Gensler said this growth will help confront risks around crypto, cybersecurity, and the “resiliency of critical market infrastructure.”

Overall, Gensler requested that the SEC receive resources to increase its staff to 5,139 employees from 4,685. This does not necessarily represent the actual number of SEC staff but rather the number of full-time equivalents (FTE) working for the agency.

SEC is regulating crypto aggressively

Gensler has recently become known for his aggressive regulatory stance. Though the SEC has taken action against fraudulent projects, the regulator has also targeted well-regarded cryptocurrency companies such as Coinbase and Kraken under Gensler’s leadership.

The SEC has also attempted to expand rules around asset custodianship and cryptocurrency staking. Certain statements from Gensler also suggest that most cryptocurrencies, apart from Bitcoin, can be considered securities.

Greater funding for the SEC will undoubtedly enable further regulatory action.