Former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler, known for his strict stance on cryptocurrency regulations, will soon be teaching economics at MIT.
Gary Gensler: Anti-crypto Regulator to Pro-Crypto Professor?
According to Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, Gensler will return to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Professor of the Practice of Global Economics. The MIT Sloan Office confirmed that he will focus on teaching and conducting research in artificial intelligence, finance, fintech, and public policy.
Well, we know where Former SEC Chairman Gensler is now. Back to the classroom at MIT Sloan, teaching the next generation about #CRYPTO! 📚 The question is, will be be pro- crypto AGAIN now that he is back at MIT ? 🤔
— Anne Kelley (@amk_dc) January 29, 2025
The news has sparked curiosity among crypto enthusiasts, with many wondering whether Gensler’s stance on cryptocurrency will evolve as he educates students on fintech. Notably, in his exit interview, Gensler acknowledged Bitcoin’s potential, describing it as highly speculative and volatile, yet separate from other industry tokens due to its demonstrated use cases. He also emphasized that other digital tokens must establish clear use cases and fundamentals before gaining approval.
In response to speculation about whether Gensler might adopt a more pro-crypto stance in academia, some netizens jokingly suggested that he could ‘return to shilling Algorand’, a project he previously endorsed.
Gensler has now been succeeded by Paul Atkins as the new SEC Chair, with Scott Bessent appointed as the new Treasury Secretary, both of whom are expected to steer the respective regulators toward a crypto-friendly direction.