Crypto Nemesis Gary Gensler Returns to MIT for AI and Fintech Focus

Gary Gensler, the former Chair of the US SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), has returned to the MIT Sloan School of Management. He will be a Professor of Practice in the Global Economics and Management Group and the Finance Group.

Gensler transitioned from a career as a crypto nemesis after leading the SEC’s four-year onslaught against the digital assets industry.

Gary Gensler Moves to MIT

MIT Sloan School of Management confirmed Gensler’s appointment in an official statement, highlighting his contributions to Wall Street and public service. He will also co-direct the FinTechAI@CSAIL initiative alongside Professor Andrew W. Lo. Here, member companies will collaborate with MIT researchers to explore AI’s impact on finance and fintech.

“I am honored to return to MIT, whose faculty, staff, and students have long been at the cutting edge of research and technology,” the MIT Sloan’s statement read, citing Gensler.

Gary Gensler’s previous tenure at MIT before leading the SEC earned him accolades, including the 2018–19 MIT Sloan Outstanding Teacher Award. News of Gensler’s resignation from chairing the SEC came on November 21, provoked by President Donald Trump’s electoral victory.

Justin Sun, the founder of Tron, had extended a job offer to Gensler. However, this was likely a tongue-in-cheek response to his previous enforcement actions against crypto projects. As it happened, however, Gensler did not take the job, resuming his career at MIT.

Gensler’s new role will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), finance, fintech, and public policy. This job description reignites speculation about his stance on cryptocurrency now that he is back in academia.

“Well, we know where Former SEC Chairman Gensler is now. Back to the classroom at MIT Sloan, teaching the next generation about crypto. The question is, will be pro-crypto AGAIN now that he is back at MIT?” SEC and Senate alumni Anne Kelley posed.

Despite Gensler’s adopted position to educate the next generation of fintech leaders, his legacy at the SEC remains indelible. He maintained a tough stance on cryptocurrency during his tenure, earning the moniker of “crypto’s nemesis.”

Gary Gensler spearheaded regulatory crackdowns and engaged in legal battles with major crypto firms. He was also accused of misleading Congress about Ethereum’s classification. Notably, Hester Peirce, often called “Crypto Mom,” admitted that the SEC’s approach under Gensler was flawed and stifled innovation within the digital asset sector.

“We knew ahead of time that there were legal questions about whether we have the authority to do what we did, but we moved forward,” Peirce said.

Gensler’s exit, therefore, presents an opportunity for sweeping changes to crypto regulations. This explains the surge in crypto ETF applications following his departure. It signifies industry players’ newly found sense of an opportunity for a more favorable regulatory environment.

Additionally, Trump’s anticipated crypto policy overhaul could further shift the industry’s trajectory, moving beyond the strict oversight Gensler enforced. As BeInCrypto reported, SEC commission Mark Uyeda stepped in as interim chair before Paul Atkins’ tenure begins.