SEC Chairman Paul Atkins Backs Self-Custody, Calls It a ‘Foundational American Value’

SEC Chairman Says Self-Custody is the New American Dream! 🇺🇸💰

In a grand spectacle titled “DeFi and the American Spirit,” we witnessed a pivotal moment, a veritable revolution in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It seems the winds of change are blowing, and they carry the scent of decentralized finance and the sweet aroma of digital asset ownership. Who knew finance could smell so good?

“The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value that should not disappear when one logs onto the internet,” proclaimed our fearless leader, Paul Atkins. Ah, the internet! Where values go to die… or do they? Perhaps they just take a vacation in the cloud.

Atkins’ words suggest a delightful departure from the previous SEC leadership, which preferred the cozy embrace of centralized control and the warm, fuzzy oversight of third-party custodians. But fear not, for Atkins is here to champion a new era of autonomy for individual users and decentralized protocols. It’s like a superhero origin story, but with more blockchain and fewer capes.

He went on to emphasize that intermediation—while often necessary—can impose unwarranted transaction costs. Who needs those pesky fees when you can engage in on-chain activities like staking? It’s like paying for a gym membership but never going. Why bother?

“I am in favor of affording greater flexibility to market participants to self-custody crypto assets,” he declared, as if he were handing out candy at a parade. Especially where intermediation imposes unnecessary transaction costs or restricts the ability to engage in staking and other on-chain activities. Because who doesn’t love a good stake?

The chairman’s remarks could signal upcoming policy developments that support decentralized infrastructure, enhance user sovereignty, and reduce regulatory friction for compliant self-custody solutions. It’s like a buffet of freedom, and everyone’s invited!

As the industry continues to evolve, Atkins’ comments may serve as a green light for DeFi developers and wallet providers advocating for more user-controlled asset frameworks in the U.S. So grab your digital wallets, folks! The future is here, and it’s looking a lot like a decentralized utopia. Or at least a really fun party.

 

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2025-06-10 02:01