U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins will speak at the Digital Chamber's DC Blockchain Summit, which is primarily sponsored by Unicoin, a cryptocurrency firm currently in a legal dispute with the SEC. Unicoin's CEO claims that Atkins is being misled by enforcement staff from the previous administration. The event highlights tensions between regulators and the crypto industry.
The Digital Chamber's DC Blockchain Summit, set for next month in Washington, features SEC Chairman Paul Atkins as a marquee speaker. The event's platinum sponsor is Unicoin, a crypto platform embroiled in a lawsuit with the SEC. Filed in May last year under then-Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, the suit accuses Unicoin and its executives, including CEO Alexander Konanykhin, of raising $100 million through tokens that were not backed by real estate as promoted.
Konanykhin has publicly stated that the case stems from holdover enforcers loyal to former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whom he calls "henchmen" perpetuating a "War on Crypto." In a message to CoinDesk, he wrote, "We are prohibited from talking to Atkins or other commissioners, so they have no way of knowing that they have been defrauded by 'dirty cops,' holdovers from Gensler's War on Crypto."
Despite the litigation barring direct communication, Unicoin supports the summit where Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce are listed as top speakers, alongside Konanykhin himself. Summit organizers emphasized its role in fostering dialogue, stating, "Companies come to the Digital Chamber's DC Summit because it is an opportunity to educate and build bridges."
Konanykhin has praised Atkins for efforts to repair damage to the crypto sector caused by Gensler but alleges that enforcement staff are undermining these initiatives. The lawsuit was approved by a commission comprising two Republicans and one Democrat, with no public dissents noted. Unicoin has also run a campaign with trucks near the SEC headquarters displaying messages like "The War on Crypto is NOT over."
An SEC spokesman declined to comment on the sponsorship and speaking arrangement. The summit promotes a code of conduct for open dialogue, though legal restrictions limit Unicoin's ability to engage directly with regulators.