Crypto self-custody is a fundamental right, says SEC's Hester Peirce

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who heads the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, strongly affirmed that self-custody of assets and financial privacy are fundamental rights consistent with the foundational philosophy of the United States. Peirce stated she is a "freedom maximalist" and questioned why individuals should be forced to use intermediaries to hold their assets. She also argued that the presumption should be that privacy in online financial transactions is the standard, not something suspicious. These comments arrive as a significant crypto market structure bill, which includes self-custody provisions, is delayed until 2026. Concurrently, there is a noted shift away from self-custody, with some large Bitcoin holders moving assets into ETFs for tax benefits and easier management, a trend some analysts view as undermining the original spirit of crypto.

(Source：Cointelegraph)