US Representative Maxine Waters has officially requested House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill to arrange an oversight hearing with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins, stating that the agency needs to clarify recent decisions that she contends undermine the enforcement of securities laws.
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Waters Demands Clarification On Abandoned SEC Cases
In Waters’ letter, she notes that the SEC has halted or abandoned several significant crypto enforcement actions that were in progress, prompting committee Democrats to seek clarification on these decisions. Reports have revealed that the letter cites actions related to Coinbase, Binance, Justin Sun, Kraken, and Ripple as areas of concern.
The request outlines nine specific aspects where the SEC’s recent behavior raises questions for lawmakers, including whether the enforcement decisions were based on legal reasoning or influenced by external pressures.
Waters, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, informed Chairman Hill that the public deserves transparency regarding modifications to enforcement strategies and how investor protections will be maintained.
Concerns About Politicization And Investor Safety
As reported in various outlets, Waters voiced significant concern that the agency’s management of cases since President Donald Trump took office diverges from earlier enforcement trends, asserting that some actions may represent a dilution of investor protections.
Industry experts and multiple media sources have picked up on this story, emphasizing the broader context: a year filled with substantial changes in crypto policy alongside new legislation that has altered the regulatory landscape.
🚨 MAXINE WATERS CALLS FOR HEARING ON SEC CHAIR ATKINS’ CRYPTO DECISIONS
— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) December 30, 2025
Some sources indicate that the timing of Waters’ letter, sent late in December, reflects increasing pressure from Democrats who are gearing up for oversight if they regain more positions on the committee.
Waters’ Demands From The SEC
In her request, Waters seeks direct answers about the reasons for dropping or delaying specific cases, what internal evaluations the SEC relied upon, and whether staff cutbacks or policy changes impacted enforcement. She also requested that Chairman Atkins appear before the committee so members can question him publicly.
Committee Responsibilities And Future Actions
Reports suggest that the letter was submitted to Chairman Hill on December 29, 2025, and that Waters urged him to schedule an oversight hearing at the earliest convenience.
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The committee could convene a hearing to review documents and testimonies from SEC officials, pressing for a public accounting of how decisions were made regarding major crypto issues. The speed of this process will rely on the committee’s schedule and whether Hill consents to a formal public session.
This issue has garnered attention due to its implications for both the enforcement of existing securities laws and the future of crypto regulation in the US.
Investors, industry representatives, and lawmakers across the spectrum are closely monitoring whether the SEC’s recent actions signify a long-term policy change or if they are isolated decisions related to specific cases.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
