Former SEC Chair Now Takes New Position at MIT

Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s return to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has sparked criticism from some figures in the cryptocurrency sector.

Gensler, known for his stringent regulatory stance during his SEC tenure, has been rehired by MIT, where he previously taught before leading the agency.

On January 27, MIT announced Gensler’s appointment, just over a week after he stepped down from the SEC. His return has drawn backlash from crypto industry leaders who argue that his policies stifled blockchain innovation. Despite this, the former SEC Chair expressed enthusiasm about rejoining the institution, stating that he looks forward to advancing research in artificial intelligence, finance, and technology.

Before his time at the SEC, Gensler held various roles in finance and academia. He worked at Goldman Sachs for 18 years, specializing in mergers and trading strategies, before moving into public service. He later chaired the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he played a key role in regulating the $400 trillion swaps market after the 2008 financial crisis.

At MIT, the former SEC Chair will co-direct the FinTech AI @CSAIL initiative alongside Professor Andrew W. Lo. The program seeks to connect industry leaders with researchers to explore artificial intelligence’s impact on finance. Additionally, he will co-teach a new course on economic topics with Nobel laureate Simon Johnson.

While his new position lacks regulatory authority, Gensler’s influence remains significant. MIT has strong ties with U.S. tech firms and policymakers.