SEC Leaders Back Crypto Self-Custody as ETF Adoption Reshapes Bitcoin Ownership

Self-custody and financial privacy have returned to the forefront of the U.S. crypto conversation after SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce reaffirmed them as core individual rights. Her remarks come amid regulatory uncertainty, rising ETF adoption, and renewed debate over Bitcoin’s founding principles.

SEC’s Hester Peirce Calls Self-Custody a Basic Human Right as Key Crypto Bill Delayed to 2026

Peirce, who also leads the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, said on The Rollup podcast that holding one’s own assets should never be questioned in a nation built on personal freedom. According to her, self-custody is a basic human right, and she expressed disbelief that Americans would be expected to rely on intermediaries to safeguard their assets. 

She also stated that privacy should be standard in online financial activity rather than treated as a suspicious choice.

Her comments come as the Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act faces further delays. Senator Tim Scott confirmed that the bill, which addresses self-custody, AML rules, and asset taxonomy, has been pushed to 2026. Scott added that the broader effort aims to empower everyday Americans in the growing digital economy. He also noted that lawmakers plan to present a bipartisan draft soon in hopes of delivering it to President Trump.

During a June roundtable of the SEC Crypto Task Force, Commissioner Paul Atkins voiced a similar position, calling self-custody a core American value. His remarks reinforced Peirce’s stance at a time when industry behavior is shifting.

Bitcoin Holders Turn to ETFs as In-Kind Creations Reduce Tax Burdens

Rising interest in crypto investment vehicles is changing how long-term Bitcoin holders manage their coins. Many whales and early adopters are now moving assets into exchange-traded funds, motivated by tax advantages and simpler administration. Dr. Martin Hiesboeck of Uphold reported the first notable decline in self-custodied Bitcoin in 15 years.

Key factors driving the shift include:

• Approval of in-kind ETF creations that avoid taxable events.
• Preference for simpler asset management.
• Growing comfort with regulated investment structures.
• Reduced willingness to maintain private key security.
• Influence of high-profile investors choosing ETFs.

In July, the SEC allowed in-kind creations and redemptions for crypto ETFs, enabling holders to exchange Bitcoin for ETF shares without triggering tax obligations tied to cash-settled products. Hiesboeck warned that this development moves the industry away from the long-standing “not your keys, not your coins” principle.

Sentiment in the Bitcoin community intensified after PlanB, creator of the stock-to-flow model, revealed in February that he transferred his Bitcoin into ETFs to avoid the burden of managing private keys. His decision sparked strong reactions, with many arguing that surrendering custody contradicts Bitcoin’s purpose as a self-sovereign asset.