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Revitalizing America’s markets at 250

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins stands on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on December 02, 2025 in New York City.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, SEC chair Paul Atkins used a speech at the New York Stock Exchange to outline a significant shift in regulatory philosophy.

Delivered beneath the Exchange’s chandeliers and the hum of trading screens, the remarks drew on history to justify a redesigned future.

The argument was straightforward: American markets prospered when regulation was disciplined and focused on information that investors could use. They weakened when disclosure ballooned into an unwieldy exercise