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

Titled “DeFi and the American Spirit,” the event marked a turning point in how the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may approach decentralized finance and digital asset ownership moving forward.

“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,” Atkins said.

His comments suggest a departure from previous SEC leadership, which largely favored more centralized control and oversight of crypto assets via third-party custodians. Atkins now appears to be championing a framework that affords greater autonomy to individual users and decentralized protocols.

Atkins emphasized that intermediation—while often necessary—can impose unwarranted transaction costs and may inhibit participation in on-chain activities such as staking.

READ MORE:

Bitcoin Targeting $120,000 While Altcoins Signal Historic Breakout Potential

“I am in favor of affording greater flexibility to market participants to self-custody crypto assets, especially where intermediation imposes unnecessary transaction costs or restricts the ability to engage in staking and other on-chain activities,” he said.

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.

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.

The post SEC Chairman Paul Atkins Backs Self-Custody, Calls It a ‘Foundational American Value’ appeared first on Coindoo.