Departing SEC Chair Gensler Sounds Alarm on Crypto ‘Bad Actors’

• Departing SEC Chair Gary Gensler warns of pervasive “bad actors” in crypto, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement.
• Regulatory gaps persist, but projects like Ripple’s RLUSD demonstrate efforts to achieve compliance and legitimacy.

Set to step down on January 20, SEC Chair Gary Gensler reaffirmed his critical stance on the cryptocurrency industry, labeling it as rife with “bad actors.” However, as CNF reported, Gensler’s departure has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising his enforcement actions and others calling for clearer regulation of the crypto industry.

In a Bloomberg TV interview, Gensler highlighted the SEC’s consistent enforcement actions during his four-year term, building on the 80 crypto-related actions initiated by his predecessor, Jay Clayton. Under Gensler’s leadership, the SEC launched approximately 100 enforcement actions targeting fraud and misconduct in the volatile crypto space.

According to an official tweet from IBC Group, it was highlighted that Gensler is set to leave office in less than two weeks, yet he remains steadfast in his views. In a recent interview, he reiterated his stance, stating that the crypto industry is “rife with bad actors.”

GENSLER DEFENDS SEC’S CRYPTO ACTIONS JUST BEFORE DEPARTURE

Gensler’s out in less than two weeks, but he’s sticking to his guns.

In a recent interview, he doubled down on his stance that crypto is “rife with bad actors.”

Drawing parallels to Jay Clayton’s era, Gensler claims… pic.twitter.com/IUw6HnMH6I

— IBC Group Official (@ibcgroupio) January 8, 2025

Gensler went on emphasizing the prevalence of scams in the crypto industry, which represents less than 1% of the U.S. financial market. Comparing cryptocurrencies to speculative venture capital investments, he noted that many of the 10,000 to 15,000 projects in existence are unlikely to survive, adding,

I’ve never seen a field so wrapped up in sentiment and not fundamentals.

Contentious Relationship with the Crypto Sector

Gensler’s tenure has been marked by a contentious relationship with the crypto industry, which often views his strict enforcement measures and classification of most crypto assets as securities with frustration. Critics argue that existing regulatory frameworks are ill-suited for crypto, making compliance challenging.

Despite criticism, Gensler defended the SEC’s approach, stressing its importance in ensuring investor protection and market integrity. As he prepares to leave office, Gensler acknowledged both the progress made and the challenges that remain.

Spotlight on Regulatory Compliance

While Gensler has highlighted “bad actors” in the cryptocurrency industry, some digital assets, such as XRP, are striving for regulatory compliance to foster trust and legitimacy. For instance, CNF highlighted Gensler and SEC’s relent. Nevertheless, Ripple recently received final approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for its stablecoin, RLUSD, pegged to the U.S. Dollar.

At the time of writing, Ripple (XRP) is trading at $2.27, reflecting a 2.37% decrease in the past day and a 6.54% decrease over the past week. See XRP Price chart below.

[mcrypto id=”345586″]

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