Crypto lawyer Teresa may become the SEC chair, what is Trump aiming for?
Goody Guillén, who previously worked at the SEC and now provides legal services for blockchain companies, was referred to by the founder of a token project as a "leader who will bring about immediate change."Original Title: Trump Said to Consider Crypto Lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén to Lead SEC
Author: Christine Lee, CoinDesk
Compiled by: Ismay, BlockBeats
Editor’s Note: As the transition process for Trump’s new term accelerates, the selection of the SEC chair has drawn significant attention. Among the candidates, Teresa Goody Guillén has emerged as a popular choice due to her extensive experience in both traditional securities law and the cryptocurrency sector. The Trump team has shown a strong emphasis on supporting the business and crypto industries, proposing a vision for reforming the current regulatory framework. This article delves into Goody Guillén’s background and her potential role in this reform, while also outlining the latest nomination dynamics for other key positions, presenting readers with the regulatory direction and policy trends of Trump’s second term.
Goody Guillén Nominated by Many as a Leading Candidate for SEC Chair
Goody Guillén is a partner at BakerHostetler and co-leads the firm’s blockchain practice. Cryptocurrency companies privately support her for the SEC chair position, citing her experience at the SEC and her extensive background representing blockchain firms and traditional Wall Street companies in dealings with the SEC.
“Masa co-founder Brendan Playford stated, ‘Among all the candidates being discussed, she is the best choice.’ Masa is a token-driven company providing decentralized data services for AI firms. Playford also mentioned that Goody Guillén would bring immediate changes to the SEC.”
Playford: Goody Guillén Will Bring Disruptive Change to the Crypto Industry
“She has a clear understanding of the relevant laws and how the SEC operates,” Playford said. “We will welcome a leader who can bring about change immediately; her strong support for cryptocurrency will fundamentally alter the industry landscape.”
Goody Guillén did not comment on this. Trump transition team spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also did not respond to requests for comment.
After the cryptocurrency industry invested over $130 million in campaign support for Trump and other Republican candidates, industry figures gained the attention of the Trump team during the candidate selection process. Reports indicate that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong had a private meeting with Trump to discuss personnel appointments.
Goody Guillén Enters the Competitive SEC Chair Candidate List
Goody Guillén has become one of the candidates expected to succeed current SEC Chair Gary Gensler. It is reported that Gensler began referring to his position in the past tense last week and is expected to resign before Trump’s official inauguration on January 20. Traditionally, SEC chairs typically resign during the new government transition period. During the campaign, Trump promised to “fire” Gensler on his first day in office.
Other reported candidates for SEC chair include: Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; Brad Bondi, a partner at Paul Hastings; former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins; Dan Gallagher, Chief Legal Officer at Robinhood; and Brian Brooks, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency.
“Tough as Nails” ------ Teresa Goody Guillén’s Path to the SEC
According to her LinkedIn page, Teresa Goody Guillén served as an attorney in the SEC’s Office of the General Counsel from 2009 to 2011, during which time Mary Shapiro became the SEC’s first female chair.
Subsequently, as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Kalorama Partners, Goody Guillén worked with former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt to advise clients on how to respond to SEC enforcement actions.
According to three insiders, the Trump transition team plans to undertake a comprehensive reform of the SEC, seeking a leader with a pro-business, non-bureaucratic background to roll back the expanded agency functions during Gensler’s tenure and to end the practice of “regulating through enforcement actions.”
In the cryptocurrency sector, the Trump team hopes to find a leader who understands the industry and takes a cautious approach to applying securities laws to digital assets until Congress passes clear legislation. These insiders also noted that Goody Guillén’s peers believe she embodies these principles perfectly.
“She is understated… but tough as nails,” said Charley Cooper, a senior advisor at digital asset solutions provider R3 and former COO of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “She will govern based on a profound understanding of securities laws in both traditional markets and the crypto space, and will significantly reduce the previous administration’s reliance on enforcement regulation and arbitrary interpretations of laws established 90 years ago.”
Nicole Trudeau, General Counsel at investment firm Wave Digital Assets, has collaborated with Goody Guillén on several crypto-related bankruptcy cases and SEC takeover cases.
“Teresa is a true pioneer in the crypto space; she possesses the expertise and vision needed to lead the SEC and drive the growth of the U.S. cryptocurrency and capital markets,” Trudeau said. “She fully embodies President Trump’s expectations for this field.”
Swift Action
Washington insiders reveal that compared to Trump’s first term, the candidate selection process this time is faster and more orderly, with the SEC chair candidate expected to be determined before Thanksgiving.
Trump has appointed Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of his transition team, as Secretary of Commerce. Previously, Lutnick had actively sought the position of Secretary of the Treasury, but current leading candidates for that role include Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group; Mark Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh.
Trump has announced several high-profile and controversial nominations, including nominating Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, but he is expected to face strong opposition in Congress due to allegations involving sex trafficking.
Additionally, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth has been nominated for Secretary of Defense, former Democratic Congressman Tulsi Gabbard has been nominated for Director of National Intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
