President Trump recently announced Paul Atkins as his choice to lead the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The appointment of Atkins, which is pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate, is a significant development for businesses and consumers in Alabama. In announcing the pick, President Trump hailed his new SEC nominee as a “proven leader for common sense regulations.”

The SEC’s approach under Atkins will likely present a sharp contrast from current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, who has routinely targeted certain industries through enforcement actions. A new SEC regime that balances innovation with consumer protection will benefit the broader US economy as well as individual states. More regulatory clarity is also likely to lead to market stability in key sectors.

Alabama is already home to many large financial institutions as well as high-growth technology startups. Under the Trump Administration, it is anticipated that the emerging digital assets industry will grow rapidly, and states deemed “open for business” are poised to benefit from this trend. That’s one reason why Senator Katie Boyd Britt has praised President Trump’s choice of Mr. Atkins to lead the SEC. Sen. Britt clearly understands that less burdensome financial regulations will lead to more capital deployment and more innovation.

In fact, the digital assets industry has long advocated for the Administration and Congress to establish clear “rules of the road” without fear of sudden legal crackdowns. Reasonable guardrails will also draw more institutional investors into the cryptocurrency and blockchain-technology space. These companies are already supporting a range of industries important to Alabama – from healthcare to transportation, to name just a few.

Alabama is well-positioned to become a national leader in financial innovation in the coming years. The first 100 days of President Trump and Paul Atkins’ SEC will be important for our federal, state, and local officials to monitor. It is encouraging that the incoming Administration intends to move away from regulation by enforcement to embracing financial innovation by law-abiding companies.

State Representative James Lomax (R-Huntsville) represents District 20 –  Madison County – in the Alabama House of Representatives.