SEC Commissioner Peirce Champions Crypto Self-Custody as Fundamental Right
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has reaffirmed her stance on self-custody of digital assets, calling it a "fundamental human right" during an interview on The Roll Up podcast. The pro-crypto regulator criticized the notion that individuals should rely on intermediaries to hold assets, stating: "Why should I have to be forced to go through someone else? It baffles me that in this country, so premised on freedom, this WOULD even be an issue."
Peirce also emphasized financial privacy as a default standard, pushing back against the idea that private transactions imply wrongdoing. Her comments coincide with delays to the Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act, a bipartisan bill now slated for 2026. Senator Tim Scott framed the legislation as critical for maintaining U.S. economic dominance, with provisions covering asset taxonomy and anti-money laundering rules.
