Bitcoin prices are booming. The price of a single Bitcoin surged Wednesday, Dec. 4, to more than $100,000, marking the first time the 16-year-old cryptocurrency hit six figures.
$102,883.47#Bitcoin #BTC $BTC $USD— Bitcoin (@Bitcoin) December 5, 2024
Bitcoin’s milestone came just hours after President-elect Donald Trump announced Paul Atkins as his pick to be the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump has promised to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet.”
Atkins was an SEC commissioner during George W. Bush’s presidency and is known to be a strong supporter of cryptocurrencies. In the early 1990s, he was on the staff of two former SEC chairs, Richard Breeden and Arthur Levitt, a Republican and Democrat, respectively.
Atkins founded Patomak Global Partners, an advisory firm that works with banks and investment firms on regulation and compliance.
“Paul is a proven leader for common sense regulations,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.”
Current SEC Chair Gary Gensler has said he will step down from the role on Jan. 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration.