The Blockchain Affiliation mentioned Could 8 that it objects to a custody rule change proposed by the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee (SEC).
Trade group objects to SEC proposal
Marisa Tashman Coppel, Coverage Counsel for the Blockchain Affiliation, warned that the SEC’s rule change might “drastically curtail” crypto funding.
She mentioned, on behalf of the Blockchain Affiliation:
“The proposed rule deviates from the SEC’s obligation … to take an asset-neutral method. … Reasonably than permitting for flexibility … the proposed rule discourages custodians and advisers from providing digital asset-related companies. “
Coppel defined that the proposal prevents funding advisers from partaking in self-custody of property. She mentioned that the brand new rule might make appearing as a certified custodian unaffordable and will forestall advisers from offering the most secure custody attainable.
She added that the rule change might prohibit sure actions corresponding to staking and buying and selling if these companies are usually not operated by a central middleman or certified custodian.
Coppel additionally steered that digital property enable for brand new custody fashions, such because the decentralized custody mannequin referred to as multi-party computation (MPC). This mannequin, which is utilized by Fireblocks, will not be permissible underneath the proposed guidelines, Coppel mentioned.
Coppel added that guidelines round indemnification (i.e., loss protection) and asset segregation might trigger difficulties for advisers. The truth that the proposed rule applies broadly to all property with out authorization from U.S Congress moreover makes the proposal an “illegal enlargement” of the SEC’s authority, Coppel concluded.
These statements are Coppel’s clarification of a longer letter printed by the Blockchain Affiliation Itself, which represents over 100 member firms.
Controversy started in February
The controversy across the rule change first started on February 15, when the SEC proposed the brand new rule. SEC commissioner Hester Peirce quickly expressed her dissent towards the proposal and cited its potential affect on crypto as one concern.
Nonetheless, a number of main crypto platforms, together with Coinbase, BitGo, Anchorage Digital, and Gemini have endorsed the proposal. These firms steered they have been already compliant with the proposed rule change and wouldn’t be affected by the change.
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