Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump's nominee for SEC Chair and founder of Potomac Global Partners, has stated that he will step down and relinquish his stake in the firm upon confirmation, in order to avoid conflicts of interest and promote a more rational approach to crypto regulation.

On March 27, 2025, during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned potential conflicts of interest involving Paul Atkins, the nominee for SEC chair, and his consulting firm, Patomak Global Partners. Warren highlighted that the firm has served high-paying financial institutions, raising concerns that Atkins' leadership could favor these wealthy clients. Atkins stated he would divest his interests in the firm upon confirmation.

Paul Atkins, founder of Potomac Global Partners, was grilled by Democratic lawmakers during his confirmation hearing for the SEC chair position over conflicts of interest stemming from his firm’s extensive ties with Wall Street and digital-asset firms. Amid concerns that his financial interests might compromise regulatory integrity, Atkins pledged to divest his stake in the consultancy within 90 days if confirmed.

In July 2021, Patomak Global Partners published a report arguing that Congressional Democrats were the primary impediment to the development of cryptocurrency regulations and advocated for new approaches to gain their support for the value of cryptocurrency markets. This report reflects the firm’s politically charged stance, which aligns with a partisan agenda given the firm's leadership background with prior Republican appointments.