SEC's Crypto Task Force Pivots Toward Privacy-Driven Regulation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Crypto Task Force announced on September 8, 2025, the scheduling of a public roundtable on financial surveillance and privacy, set to take place on October 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C. This initiative follows a broader strategy to foster American leadership in digital assets and fintech while protecting economic liberty. The event is part of the ongoing Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity series and aligns with the President’s Executive Order on Digital Assets and the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets report. Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, who leads the task force, emphasized the importance of privacy-protecting technologies, stating that understanding such tools will help regulators develop policy solutions in the crypto space [1].

The roundtable will feature panelists from the forefront of developing technologies aimed at safeguarding individual privacy. It is designed to facilitate a detailed discussion on financial surveillance and policy matters. The event is open to the public and will be streamed live on SEC.gov. In-person attendance requires registration and security checks, while a recording will be posted later for wider access. The agenda and speaker details will be posted on the Crypto Task Force webpage in the coming weeks. Prior to the event, Commissioner Peirce will participate in speaking engagements at DC Fintech Week and the DC Privacy Summit [1].

This roundtable is the sixth in a series of ten meetings planned between August and December 2025, reflecting the SEC’s increased focus on addressing the regulatory landscape for digital assets. The task force has already proposed changes to the SEC’s rules, including exemptions and safe harbors related to the offer and sale of crypto assets and modifications to broker-dealer financial responsibility rules. These changes aim to reduce regulatory burdens on U.S. crypto firms and promote innovation. Notably, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have shown a softened approach to enforcement since January, including dropping several investigations and lawsuits [2].

In recent weeks, both agencies have also signaled a willingness to explore shifts toward 24/7 capital markets and a coordinated approach to spot crypto trading, consistent with recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. These developments highlight a broader regulatory trend toward harmonizing oversight of crypto markets. The SEC and CFTC are also preparing for a joint roundtable on regulatory harmonization priorities, scheduled for September 29, 2025, as part of a broader effort to align their frameworks and reduce unnecessary barriers to innovation [3].

The roundtable on financial surveillance and privacy underscores the SEC’s recognition of the need to adapt to the evolving digital asset landscape. Commissioner Peirce has reiterated that privacy is a critical component of regulatory policy, enabling individuals to control when and how their data is shared. The discussion will focus not only on technological advancements in privacy protection but also on how these can be integrated into regulatory frameworks to address risks and opportunities. With the potential introduction of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act by 2026, the U.S. regulatory environment for crypto is undergoing a transformation aimed at balancing investor protection with innovation [2]. This transition from a strict enforcement model under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler to a more collaborative and forward-looking approach marks a pivotal shift in U.S. digital asset policy.

Source:

[1] SEC Crypto Task Force Host Roundtable Financial Surveillance Privacy (https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-114-sec-crypto-task-force-host-roundtable-financial-surveillance-privacy)

[2] SEC Financial Surveillance Privacy Crypto Task Force (https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-financial-surveillance-privacy-crypto-task-force)

[3] SEC and CFTC Issue Joint Statement Regulatory Harmonization Efforts Will Co-host Roundtable Sept 29 (https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-112-sec-cftc-issue-joint-statement-regulatory-harmonization-efforts-will-co-host-roundtable-sept-29)