Caroline Pham, the acting chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has warned crypto companies that they cannot expect leniency in adhering to regulatory requirements even with a changing political administration. Speaking at Coinbase’s Annual Summit with Yahoo Finance, Pham emphasized that there is no easy path for businesses and regulators are not easily fooled. “There is no easy street for anybody, and regulators aren’t easy,” she stated. “Just because we are pro-innovation and pro-growth does not mean that you’re going to be able to get away with breaking the law.” Pham clarified that this message does not signify an intention to unfairly target the crypto sector as previous administrations did, but instead, a focus on fair and firm enforcement for addressing real concerns such as fraud and misconduct. She further criticized the Biden regulatory approach, echoing industry sentiment and highlighting how regulators bent rules in favor of going after crypto in ways not supported by existing law, leading to distrust within the U.S. system. “Fear-based policymaking based on wrong perceptions that the industry is ‘evil’ no longer serves, stressing the importance of restoring regulatory clarity.” These comments come amidst the reemergence of a proactive approach towards regulation in the crypto space, particularly with Paul Atkins’ appointment as the new Chairman of the SEC. Atkins is expected to fulfill Trump’s promises to the sector and address long-standing regulatory irregularities that have hindered growth. Earlier this month, the regulatory chief reaffirmed his mission to develop clearer rules for the crypto industry. “A key priority of my Chairmanship will be to develop a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets that establishes clear rules of the road for the issuance, custody, and trading of crypto assets,” he stated.