Paul Atkins’ Loosely Linked RSR Token Rises 13% After Coinbase Listing

RSR Token Surges 13% Following Coinbase Listing and Paul Atkins’ SEC Appointment

The Reserve Rights (RSR) token, the governance token of the Reserve Protocol stablecoin platform, saw a sharp 13.6% price surge after being listed on Coinbase and amid the official appointment of Paul Atkins as the new Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Coinbase announced on April 21 via X (formerly Twitter) that it would begin trading RSR on the Ethereum Layer-2 network Base at 9 AM PT (4 PM UTC) on April 22. The announcement helped propel the token to a near two-month high of $0.00835, according to CoinGecko data.

The timing of the listing aligned with news that Paul Atkins had been officially sworn in as SEC Chair on April 21. Atkins had previously served as an early adviser to the Reserve Protocol project around its launch in 2019, though he no longer holds any position with the company. Reserve Protocol CEO Nevin Freeman confirmed Atkins’ past involvement.

Source: Coinbase Assets

RSR, which currently trades at $0.007851, is the governance mechanism for the Reserve Dollar (RSV), a stablecoin designed to maintain price stability. The project aims to provide a more robust and decentralized form of financial infrastructure, particularly in economies with volatile currencies.

The token’s momentum had already begun prior to the official swearing-in, climbing to around $0.0081 on optimism over Atkins’ crypto-friendly stance. Atkins, confirmed by the Senate in a 52-44 vote on April 9, replaces Mark Uyeda, who had served as acting chair since January 20 following Gary Gensler’s resignation.

In his confirmation hearing, Atkins pledged to establish a “rational, coherent and principled approach” to crypto regulation. He emphasized his goal of making the U.S. the safest and most innovative global destination for investors and businesses while ensuring strong consumer protections.

Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, the SEC has shifted direction by forming a new Crypto Task Force aimed at constructive dialogue with the industry. Several crypto-related enforcement actions initiated under the previous Gensler-led SEC have been scaled back or dropped entirely.

RSR is currently the 143rd largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, standing at around $464 million.

With Coinbase’s backing and a more favorable regulatory outlook under Atkins, investor confidence in the RSR token and the broader Reserve Protocol appears to be gaining new momentum.