SEC Crypto Privacy Roundtable Set for December 15: Here’s What to Expect

The SEC just dropped a date—December 15—for its high-stakes roundtable on crypto privacy. Mark your calendars; this one could shape the regulatory playbook.

Why This Roundtable Matters

It’s not another talking shop. The Commission is bringing regulators, tech builders, and maybe even a few skeptics to the same table. They’re tackling the core tension head-on: innovation’s demand for transactional privacy versus the government’s need for visibility. Think Tornado Cash, privacy coins, and the next-gen protocols trying to fly under the radar.

The Stakes for Builders and Traders

For developers, the discussion could signal where the regulatory red lines get drawn. Are certain privacy features non-starters? For traders, it’s about the future of anonymous wallets and whether your portfolio needs to become an open book. The outcome might just determine which assets get labeled ‘compliant’ and which get sidelined.

Reading Between the Regulatory Lines

Setting this agenda now isn’t random. It signals the SEC is done kicking the can on privacy. They’re building a framework, and the industry’s input—or lack thereof—will be cemented into guidance. Expect talk of ‘travel rule’ adaptations for DeFi and new definitions for what constitutes ‘sufficient’ disclosure. It’s the classic regulatory dance: promise collaboration while quietly sharpening the knives.

One thing’s certain—after December 15, the rules of the game for privacy in crypto get a lot clearer. Or a lot more complicated. Just another day in the wild west of digital finance, where your right to anonymity is only as good as the last committee vote.

Early discussions

Observers are questioning how crypto privacy tools fit within current surveillance rules as the SEC examines zero-knowledge systems, mixers, and non-custodial apps. 

With these technologies spreading across chains, the agency faces pressure to clarify responsibilities. The December 15 roundtable will feature differing views from regulators and industry participants.

SEC’s upcoming roundtable

According to the SEC, the roundtable will examine how new technologies might adjust financial-surveillance practices while preserving civil liberties. Discussions will cover how privacy tools work, the role of cryptographic proofs, and whether current reporting rules can adapt to decentralized systems.

Panelists will include regulators, researchers, and industry participants. The SEC noted that the event will not set rules but will inform future policy work, similar to other non-rulemaking sessions on crypto and market structure.

Industry pressure builds

The announcement comes as companies push for clearer digital-asset rules. On December 5, ONDO Finance urged the SEC to create compliant pathways for tokenized Treasuries and other RWAs, arguing they already fit within existing securities laws and should be available to retail and institutional investors.

Ondo also called for allowing issuance on both permissioned and public blockchains, saying open networks enable continuous settlement. Analysts note that SEC guidance in this area could shape the growth of the RWA market.

A pivotal moment

With the roundtable approaching and enterprise pressure mounting, the SEC faces rising expectations to refine how surveillance, privacy, and tokenization fit into U.S. financial law. 

Market participants say the agency’s next steps will influence innovation in decentralized systems and shape whether the U.S. remains competitive in real-world-asset tokenization.

The discussions are expected to influence the 2026 regulatory landscape as policymakers balance consumer protection with ongoing crypto innovation.

Also read: Citadel Urges SEC to Regulate DeFi Like Stock Exchanges