The SEC's top crypto lawyer says the agency is working to make firms comfortable holding blockchain assets under custody rules. Clearer custody guidance could decide which banks and brokers finally offer crypto services to everyday users.
What actually happened
Taylor Lindman, the top lawyer for the SEC's Crypto Task Force, said the agency is trying to get firms comfortable with blockchain technology and crypto assets, according to a report published on 22 September 2026 by CoinDesk. The task force operates inside the SEC and focuses on digital asset policy. Lindman's reported remarks did not include specific custody rule text. No proposed regulation, timeline, or vote date appeared in the report. Her comments point to continued engagement between the agency and industry on custody questions.
How we got here
The SEC created its Crypto Task Force to build a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets after years of uncertainty. Custody, meaning how a firm safely holds a client's crypto, has been one of the most contested issues for banks and brokers. Many firms said unclear rules kept them from offering crypto services at all. The SEC previously relied more on enforcement actions than formal rulemaking, leaving custody practices in a gray area. Lindman's comments suggest the task force is still gathering input rather than finalizing a rule.
Why this matters for you
For crypto holders, clearer custody rules could eventually mean more banks and brokers offering regulated storage for digital assets. For builders and exchanges, Lindman's remarks signal the SEC wants dialogue, not only enforcement, though nothing is finalized. For custodians, this points toward future compliance frameworks worth tracking now. For users of hardware wallets and emerging AR-linked devices, institutional custody clarity could shape which products can legally hold crypto later. None of this is settled yet, so treat it as a signal, not a policy.
The bigger question
If the SEC wants firms comfortable with crypto custody, how long before comfort becomes a formal rule? Institutions have waited years for clarity on legally holding client crypto assets. A signal of intent is not the same as finished regulation. The open question is whether this conversation becomes an actual custody framework, or stays a talking point.
What to watch
No formal SEC custody rule or vote date has been announced. Watch for further statements from the Crypto Task Force following the 22 September 2026 CoinDesk report. Bonuz will track any custody rulemaking that affects crypto wallets, including hardware and AR-linked devices. Until a formal proposal appears, Lindman's comments remain a policy signal, not a rule.
