Atkins SEC Chair Confirmation Hearing Slated for March 27

The Senate Banking Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Paul Atkins to lead the US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, the panel announced Thursday.

Atkins served as a Republican SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 before founding Patomak Global Partners, a Washington consulting firm.

If confirmed by the Senate, Atkins is expected to streamline the process for companies going public and rein in SEC enforcement while playing a major role in shaping new regulations for the digital-asset industry.

The regulator has already implemented sweeping changes under acting head Mark Uyeda, who has been leading the ...