Many in the crypto community have used social media platforms and messaging apps to criticize United States Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler amid the regulator’s crackdown on digital asset firms. However, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from a Bloomberg reporter has revealed death threats toward the SEC chair from both US and international sources since 2022.

According to documents made available by investigative reporter Jason Leopold on Sept. 13, some individuals sent voicemail messages and emails containing crude, violent threats aimed at Gensler without explanation. One person said they would shoot and “chop [him] up,” and another was threatened with prosecution if the messages continued.

“[Gensler is] routinely mocked on social media over his regulatory decisions,” said Leopold on X. “The crypto community hates him. Fraudsters and scammers impersonate him. But a couple of people took their anger out through vile voicemails and emails directed at him.”

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Documents showing an investigation into emails threatening SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Source: Jason Leopold

The FOIA documents suggested that one of the death threats may have come from a government employee, while another person who sent a threatening email with the subject “die” to Gensler lived in Australia. The US Attorney’s Office declined to pursue criminal charges in the latter case.

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Mockery, or something deeper?

Though Gensler is subject to being “mocked” on social media platforms like X, as Leopold suggested, the attention the SEC chair receives from his moves against the digital asset industry sometimes extends to more than funny memes and seemingly idle comments.

Many crypto users on X and Reddit claim to “hate” Gensler for his actions. During his speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee in July, Donald Trump pledged to fire the SEC chair “on day one” to massive cheers and applause, prompting the Republican presidential contender to say, “I didn’t know he was that unpopular.”

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Source: RandomCryptoPal

Gensler has served as SEC chair since 2021 under President Joe Biden. Though his term is scheduled to end in 2026, some experts have suggested that the outcome of the US elections favoring either Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Trump could encourage the SEC chair to step down. 

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