Paul Atkins, chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, will be a speaker at Bitcoin 2026, one of the largest Bitcoin conferences in the world. Atkins was appointed to the position by former US President Donald Trump in 2025 and has since emerged as an influential figure in shaping the regulation of digital assets. Atkins, who has many years of experience in financial regulation, previously served as SEC commissioner during the Bush administration.
Transformation in US Digital Asset Policies
With the chairmanship of Paul Atkins, the SEC launched an initiative called Project Crypto with the aim of developing a new and innovation-oriented regulation model instead of the old approaches that caused uncertainty in the cryptocurrency markets. This program was designed to bring US financial markets on-chain, establish clear rules for storing and trading Bitcoin, and provide a framework that fits the needs of the digital age, replacing old methods. Atkins, in his statement as president, emphasized that we are on the verge of a new era in financial markets.
“We are working together towards President Trump’s promise to make America the crypto center of the world.”
Historical Transformation Between SEC and Bitcoin Conferences
The SEC’s current approach is in marked contrast to previous chairman Gary Gensler’s administration. During the Gensler period, the institution imposed harsh controls and sanctions on Bitcoin and the digital asset sector in general, but did not provide a legal framework that would provide sufficient clarity to market participants. At the Bitcoin 2024 event held in Nashville, US presidential candidate Donald Trump announced that he would dismiss Gensler and appoint a more digital asset-friendly leader. Following the election, Paul Atkins became president and made a significant change in the approach to cryptocurrency markets.
Bitcoin 2026 Conference and Participant Profile
Bitcoin 2026 will be held April 27-29 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The organization is expected to be the largest Bitcoin conference ever held. Investors, developers, miners, tech experts and policy makers from many parts of the world will attend the event. The conference will offer participants a variety of training, workshops and networking opportunities with themes focusing on the future of Bitcoin and digital currencies.
Different ticket types are available for participants, including general admission, professional or company-specific passes, and the high-end “Whale Pass.” A wide range of opportunities are provided, from general access options suitable especially for those who will be introduced to Bitcoin for the first time, to conference applications and special sessions for corporate participants.
The conference’s main sessions cover technical workshops, open source development presentations and a wide range of topics such as mining, energy, artificial intelligence and policy. Those leading the global adoption of Bitcoin, corporate strategy discussions and beginner level trainings are also the highlights of the event.
Bitcoin conferences held in the USA in the past years have shown a great increase in the number of participants, especially in the last five years. It is reported that over 35 thousand people will attend again in Las Vegas in 2025. Even higher participants are expected in 2026. Atkins’ presence as a speaker symbolizes an important meeting for both industry actors and the regulation world.
According to statements about Bitcoin 2026, more prominent speaker information is planned to be shared soon. It is stated that experts and leaders from different sectors will take the stage at the event.
