U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler reviews the agency’s rulemaking and enforcement record in his final town hall speech

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission published a speech by Chair Gary Gensler marking his final town hall as Chair, reflecting on the SEC’s investor protection mission and summarising the agency’s recent regulatory and enforcement work to reduce risk and strengthen market integrity. Gensler cited 2,700 enforcement cases, USD 2.7 billion in monetary returns to the public, 46 rules finalised, and more than 4,000 Commission votes. He highlighted initiatives affecting the nearly USD 60 trillion equity market and the USD 28 trillion Treasury market, including the move to a one-day settlement cycle, enhanced corporate governance and insider trading controls such as new conditions and cooling-off periods for Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, public company disclosures on material cybersecurity and climate risks, and measures addressing special purpose acquisition companies. The speech also referenced Regulation S-P amendments requiring covered broker-dealers and investment advisers to notify customers of certain data breaches, reforms for the USD 7 trillion money market fund sector and expanded reporting for the USD 30 trillion private funds sector, efforts to ensure Public Company Accounting Oversight Board access to inspect and investigate audit firms in China, continued enforcement including in crypto markets, and emerging policy questions linked to growing use of artificial intelligence in finance.