SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce: Self-custody of encryption assets is a fundamental right

According to ChainCatcher news and a report from Cointelegraph, U.S. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated in a podcast interview that the “self-custody” of crypto assets and financial privacy are fundamental human rights. She emphasized: “Why should I be forced to have someone else hold my assets? … People should have the right to hold their own assets.” She indicated that in a country like the United States, which emphasizes freedom, it is perplexing to mandate asset custody with third parties; online financial privacy should be the default state, not default public. This statement comes as the CLARITY Act is delayed for deliberation until 2026. The bill was originally planned to include provisions on the “self-custody rights” of crypto assets, Money Laundering rules, and asset classification. Meanwhile, the industry has noticed that with the launch of various crypto ETFs, some large investors and long-term holders are shifting from “self-custody coins” to “holding in ETF form” to enjoy tax benefits and avoid the hassle of managing Private Keys. There are concerns that this may gradually undermine the crypto community's long-asserted principle of “Wallet equals Sovereignty.”