Jamie Selway is set to take up a senior position at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as the newly appointed Director of the Division of Trading and Markets. He will begin the role on 17 June 2025, in a move that reflects the regulator’s growing focus on experienced leadership across both traditional finance and the digital asset sector.
His new role will involve overseeing the structures and systems that govern how financial products are bought and sold in U.S. markets. He’ll be tasked with guiding policy, supervising infrastructure such as exchanges and clearinghouses, and helping maintain stability and efficiency across trading environments.
Image 1: (Source: Perplexity AI)
Diverse Background Across Finance and Fintech
Selway brings with him a long history of work across multiple financial domains. He held the position of global head of institutional markets at Blockchain.com from 2018 to 2019, where he led the company’s strategy in delivering crypto-related trading services to major institutional clients.
Before that, he co-founded White Cap Trading, where he was both chairman and managing director, helping to shape its role as a brokerage firm serving large investors. His work at Investment Technology Group also stands out, where he led electronic brokerage operations and supported innovation in equity trading.
More recently, Selway worked with Sophron Advisors as a partner, advising clients on matters related to capital markets. He has also served on the boards of various firms including Protego Holdings, Skew, and AllofUs Financial, contributing to governance in both fintech and finance sectors.
In his earlier years, he was deeply involved in shaping electronic trading systems, serving as chief economist at Archipelago. That platform would later become a part of the New York Stock Exchange, signalling its importance in the evolution of digital trading infrastructure.
Selway’s insights have also contributed to wider policy discussions. He has participated in public forums organised by both Congress and the SEC and has held leadership roles with the National Organisation of Investment Professionals. Additionally, he worked as associate editor for the Journal of Trading, where he explored trends and challenges in market structure.
He holds a Master of Science in financial mathematics from the University of Chicago and earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics and European history from Washington and Lee University.
Changing Tide at the SEC
This appointment comes under the tenure of Paul Atkins, who took over as SEC Chair in April 2025 after Senate confirmation. Atkins praised Selway’s industry experience and understanding of market mechanics, expressing confidence in his ability to support the agency’s efforts in maintaining robust and modern trading systems.
Selway’s recruitment reflects a wider shift in the SEC’s tone toward innovation and regulatory adaptability. His past work in both conventional finance and crypto-related ventures places him in a unique position to lead policy discussions on emerging market models and technologies.
Alongside this leadership update, the SEC also confirmed it was pulling back on several earlier policy initiatives. The agency announced that it would no longer proceed with proposed rule changes introduced between March 2022 and November 2023. These proposed regulations had aimed to broaden the definition of financial exchanges, potentially capturing decentralised finance platforms under SEC authority.
Other proposals would have introduced tighter oversight on how crypto assets are held by custodians. The decision to withdraw them signals a recalibration in approach, likely intended to reassess the costs, benefits, and market implications of regulating digital finance under traditional frameworks.
Image 2: (Source: Perplexity AI)
Gaps in Leadership Across Financial Regulators
While Selway’s appointment fills a critical leadership role at the SEC, there are still other senior vacancies across U.S. financial regulatory bodies. One commissioner seat at the SEC remains open, with no nomination yet from President Donald Trump. Although Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw’s term ended in June 2024, she may continue in the role until a replacement is named, as allowed by statute.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which plays a key role in overseeing commodities and crypto derivatives, is facing a more significant leadership gap. Its former chair, Rostin Behnam, along with commissioners Summer Mersinger and Christy Goldsmith Romero, have all stepped down in recent months.
President Trump has nominated Brian Quintenz, a former CFTC commissioner, to lead the agency. That nomination is currently under consideration by the Senate. No other nominations have yet been made to fill the remaining open seats, leaving the agency’s policy making capacity somewhat reduced.
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These changes come at a moment of transformation for global financial markets, especially with the rapid expansion of decentralised platforms, crypto investment products, and the use of algorithms in trading systems. Regulatory bodies are under pressure to update their frameworks without hindering technological progress or market integrity.
