BRAEDEN ANDERSON
This work began as one lawyer writing carefully about issues he studies and practices.
It now reaches over a million readers, alongside 20,000 newsletter subscribers and 160,000 YouTube followers.
Thank you for being part of this community.
Looking for something specific?
The full Anderson Insights archive is now searchable. Use the search bar to find past content by topic, agency, or keyword. Try searching: “SEC v. Jarkesy,” “ATS regulation,” “custody” or “digital assets”
Hi, I’m Braeden.
I'm a partner at Gesmer Updegrove LLP, where I lead the Securities Regulatory and Enforcement and Digital Assets practice areas. I’ve served as Assistant General Counsel at Robinhood, practiced at Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin, and represented clients in high-stakes matters before the SEC, DOJ, FINRA, and state regulators.
I write and make content for people who don’t have time to guess: founders, lawyers, regulators, and smart operators who know better than to rely on Google or the AI answer without context.
I've been recognized by U.S. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® for Financial Services and Securities Regulation, and listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America for contributions to law and public service.
Enjoy the content. I hope you find what you’re looking for. And if you want to talk something through, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear from you. It’s really cool when readers become clients.
Crenshaw’s Exit, Dissent, and the SEC’s Troubled Crypto Record
Acknowledging the value of dissent does not require suspending scrutiny. It is fair, and necessary, to ask whether the SEC during the prior administration, and Crenshaw in particular, demonstrated sufficient command of the crypto markets they sought to regulate, and whether the agency’s approach over the past several years meaningfully advanced investor protection or instead imposed avoidable costs through uncertainty and inconsistency.
SEC Restores Simultaneous Consideration Policy for Settlement and Waiver
This article and embedded video discusses the recent policy shift at the SEC regarding simultaneous consideration of settlement offers and related waiver requests in enforcement actions. The policy change reverses a 2021 decision under prior leadership that had required waiver requests to be considered separately, only after a settlement was finalized.
Paul Atkins Confirmed as SEC Chair Amid Rising Pressure to Act on Chinese Companies
On April 10, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as the next Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission in a narrow 52-44 vote. During his confirmation process, Atkins faced tough questions about the agency’s recent reversals in crypto enforcement and the influence of the Trump administration on its priorities. But the most pointed pressure came from lawmakers demanding stronger action against Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges.
What to Expect from SEC Chair Paul Atkins: Potential Reforms and Priorities
The nomination of Paul Atkins as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signals a new era for the agency. This article explores 13 potential reforms and priorities that could define Atkins’ leadership, based on his past positions, public statements, and the regulatory landscape he inherits.