SEC Chair Signals Strong Support for Crypto Self-Custody Rights Amid Regulatory Shift

SEC Chair Paul Atkins and his predecessor Gary Gensler have both publicly affirmed the importance of self-custody in the cryptocurrency sector, highlighting it as a core American value and a foundational crypto principle. Atkins, speaking at a recent policy roundtable, described self-custody as an inherent right rooted in personal freedom and property rights—marking a significant shift for the SEC, which has historically been skeptical of self-custody wallets and decentralized asset management. These comments come as Congress debates regulatory bills that could limit users’ ability to manage digital assets privately. Additionally, the SEC is considering a new exemption to clarify and facilitate self-custody options while enhancing investor protection. The growing regulatory support for self-custody is likely to encourage broader crypto adoption, promote innovation, and reduce compliance uncertainties. For crypto traders, these developments suggest a decreasing regulatory risk for decentralized storage solutions, potentially leading to increased market confidence, higher trading volumes, and greater participation from both retail and institutional investors.