Dan Gambardello, a well-known Cardano bull and crypto analyst, has uncovered a surprising connection between Cardano and Paul Atkins, the incoming SEC Chair.

Atkins, who reportedly holds up to $6 million in crypto assets (excluding Bitcoin), is currently undergoing the Senate Banking Committee’s screening process. Industry commentators believe his leadership at the SEC could significantly redirect the current state of crypto regulation.

In his latest video, Gambardello highlights how the former SEC Commissioner’s past involvement with Cardano could influence the future of the blockchain and crypto industry.

Paul Atkins’ Link to Cardano

Gambardello pointed out that Atkins, the nominee to replace Gary Gensler as SEC Chair, once casually featured on Input Output’s YouTube channel—the official platform of Cardano’s parent company—in 2020.

During this appearance, Atkins discussed the prospects of blockchain technology and its mainstream adoption. This contrasts with Gensler’s stance, which has been more critical of crypto, as he targeted crypto companies with lawsuits.

Atkins’s past involvement with Cardano highlights his awareness of the blockchain’s potential. Some suggest that his leadership at the SEC could offer a more favorable environment for cryptocurrencies like Cardano, but this remains speculative at press time.

Notably, during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Atkins made crypto regulation a top priority. He emphasized the need for clear, efficient regulations to foster market innovation and protect investors.

Atkins plans to work with Congress and fellow commissioners to create a solid regulatory framework for digital assets.

Some lawmakers, like Senator Tim Scott, support his approach. Meanwhile, others, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest due to Atkins’s significant crypto holdings. The Senate Banking Committee will soon vote on his nomination.

Institutional Interest in Cardano Growing

As Cardano continues to build momentum, institutional interest in the project is rising steadily. Gambardello notes that major financial players are embracing ADA. He cited that Interactive Brokers recently added ADA, alongside other major altcoins like Solana and XRP, to its crypto trading platform.

Additionally, ADA is now available on NuBank, a Berkshire Hathaway-backed neobank that boasts over 100 million users across Latin America.

What This Means for ADA

Despite these bullish developments, ADA’s price has yet to experience a major breakout. Gambardello attributes this to the broader monetary cycle, noting that Federal Reserve liquidity injections fueled previous bull markets.

With quantitative tightening (QT) expected to wind down, a rise in liquidity could trigger a significant rally for ADA.

Gambardello highlighted that ADA has already climbed from its long-standing $0.30 range to around $0.73. While short-term volatility remains a possibility, he stressed that the long-term outlook remains extremely bullish.