Crypto foe and former SEC Chair Gary Gensler returns to MIT
Former SEC chair Gensler will focus on AI, financial technology, and finance.
One of crypto’s top adversaries is returning to academia.
Former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will return to MIT after a controversial four-year stint at the helm of the regulator. His teaching and research will focus on artificial intelligence, finance, financial technology, and public policy, according to a press release from the prestigious university.
“I’m thrilled to once again collaborate with MIT’s distinguished team of scholars creating a better future for all through artificial intelligence, finance, and technology,” said Gensler in a statement.
The news comes one week after he left the markets watchdog the same day that Donald Trump was inaugurated. Before stepping down, he had become crypto’s l’ennemi commun after spearheading the agency’s crackdown on the industry.
At MIT, Gensler will serve as co-director of the FinTechAI initiative, exploring the intersection of AI and finance.
His new focus on AI comes at a crucial time for the US tech industry. Earlier this week, the market went into freefall after a Chinese artificial intelligence startup dubbed DeepSeek surfaced. The startup brandished an AI assistant that operates at a discount to US-based AI leader OpenAI and its ChatGPT product.
The slump — which wiped out more than $1 trillion from the broader stock market — was also exacerbated by derisking from investors in anticipation of Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting by the Federal Reserve.
Gensler was co-director of MIT’s FinTech@CSAIL, and senior advisor to the MIT Media Lab Digital Currency Initiative immediately before he joined the SEC.
Anti-crypto stance
Under Gensler, the SEC pursued a number of lawsuits against top companies like Coinbase, Binance, and Ripple, while also tagging a number of tokens as unregistered securities.
His tough approach wasn’t limited to crypto.
While leading the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 2009 to 2014, he was also known as an industry hard-hitter — annoying Wall Street and implementing new swap rules in the aftermath of the global financial crash of 2008.
“Those who have known Gensler throughout his regulatory career know he has an imperious attitude that tends to rub industry and fellow policymakers the wrong way,” Sean Tuffy, a regulation and market structure expert, previously told DL News.
“He’s not a warm and fuzzy guy,” Tuffy said.
Pedro Solimano is a markets correspondent based in Buenos Aires. Got a tip? Email him at psolimano@dlnews.com.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Dow Jones fall as big tech see sell off pressure on Trump’s comments
Share link:In this post: Major stock indices in the US fell on Monday on negative investor sentiment. This followed President Trump’s failure to predict if his tariff policies would lead to a recession. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was weighed by losses in the big techs
Recession risks rise for all 3 North American economies over Trump-US tariff chaos
Share link:In this post: North America’s recession risks rise as Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies create economic uncertainty across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Wall Street tumbles, economists warn of worsening inflation, and the Bank of Canada considers a rate cut amid trade policy chaos. Ontario retaliates with a 25% electricity surcharge on US states, escalating tensions as Trump dismisses economic concerns.

Why XRP Is Poised to Replace the ‘Dying’ SWIFT System

Bitcoin Gold Card in the US? Crypto Insider Floats Proposal
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More








