The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) crypto task force will convene its sixth industry roundtable on October 18, with the upcoming session set to focus on the pressing issues of financial surveillance and user privacy in the digital asset space.
A Focus on Privacy Rights
Commissioner Hester Peirce, who leads the SEC’s crypto task force, emphasized in a September 8 notice that protecting the privacy of Americans remains “critically important.” She argued that privacy-preserving technologies empower individuals to control how their sensitive data is shared and safeguarded.
“Understanding recent developments in privacy-protecting tools will assist the SEC and other financial regulators as we work on policy solutions in the crypto space,” Peirce said.
Her remarks come amid growing tension between regulators and privacy-oriented projects. The Tornado Cash case, which saw co-founder Roman Storm charged for enabling money laundering, has intensified scrutiny of such technologies. Still, Peirce has consistently defended the right of individuals to use privacy tools, comparing digital value transfers to the anonymity once afforded by physical coins when the Fourth Amendment was drafted.
Building on Previous Roundtables
The October roundtable continues a series of discussions launched in August that have covered topics including market structure, investor protection, and digital asset oversight. According to Peirce, the meetings are designed to engage industry stakeholders and the broader public so that forthcoming regulations reflect both innovation and practicality.
“These conversations help us shape rules that can realistically work for the crypto sector,” she said.
A Softer Stance Under New Leadership
The SEC’s evolving posture toward crypto comes as part of a broader shift under the administration of returning President Donald Trump, which has signaled a more pro-crypto approach compared to prior years. Enforcement measures have been scaled back, while compliance burdens on U.S.-based crypto firms are being eased.
Earlier this month, SEC Chair Paul Atkins unveiled the Commission’s Spring 2025 regulatory agenda, outlining efforts to clarify rules around token issuance, custody, and exchange trading. The agenda aims to give crypto markets a clearer framework and reduce uncertainty that has long plagued the sector.
Collaboration With the CFTC
In a rare show of regulatory unity, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jointly announced plans to explore “innovation exemptions” that could permit activities such as peer-to-peer trading under structured guardrails. The two agencies will host a joint roundtable on September 29 to discuss these proposals, underscoring their shared goal of delivering clarity while supporting innovation.
Separately, the SEC has also launched a new cross-border task force to combat transnational fraud and offshore schemes, particularly targeting pump-and-dump operations and market manipulation.
As the October 18 roundtable approaches, industry participants are expected to weigh in on how regulators can balance privacy, security, and innovation in the crypto ecosystem. With privacy at the forefront, the SEC faces the challenge of protecting individual rights while addressing legitimate concerns over illicit financial activity.
