The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has confirmed it will host a high-stakes privacy and financial surveillance roundtable on Dec. 15, signaling a renewed regulatory focus on one of crypto’s most controversial issues.
While no formal policy will be drafted during the meeting, the conversations between SEC leaders and crypto industry executives are expected to be intense. Privacy advocates say the timing couldn’t be more critical.
SEC Privacy Roundtable Arrives After Controversial Court Cases Shake the Industry
The crypto world has been rattled by several recent legal battles:
- The partial guilty verdict for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm (no confirmed personal website available)
- The sentencing of the Samourai Wallet developers
- A powerful price rally in privacy coins such as Zcash
These incidents have fueled concerns that the U.S. government is taking a more aggressive stance toward privacy-enhancing technologies.
Naomi Brockwell, founder of the Ludlow Institute (no verified website available), didn’t mince words:
“Authoritarians thrive when people have no privacy. Hostility toward privacy protections should be a serious warning sign.”
Privacy, once a niche topic, is now back at the center of the crypto conversation.
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Crypto Community Warns of Dangerous Precedent After Developer Prosecutions
Legal experts and privacy advocates say the government’s actions risk criminalizing open-source development.
Journalist and crypto advocate Lola Leetz (no verified website available) compared the situation to holding Toyota responsible for crimes committed using its cars:
“People should not be punished for what others do with the tools they build.”
The fear:
Developers may stop creating privacy-preserving protocols altogether — out of fear of prosecution.
DOJ Clarifies Position — Writing Code Isn’t a Crime
In August, a major shift came from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Acting assistant attorney general Matthew Galeotti (no verified site available) tried to calm fears:
“Merely writing code, without ill intent, is not a crime.”
He added the DOJ won’t use indictments as a “law-making tool,” and developers shouldn’t have to guess whether they might face criminal charges.
Still, many in the industry remain cautious. The upcoming SEC privacy roundtable could offer much-needed clarity — or deepen concerns.
A Critical December Moment for Crypto Privacy
With privacy under fire, developers on edge, and regulators under pressure, the SEC’s December discussion will be watched closely by the entire industry.
Even without producing new policy, the roundtable may influence enforcement attitudes, public perception, and the future of privacy technology in the U.S.
One thing is undeniable:
The fight over crypto privacy has entered a new chapter — and December’s roundtable could set the tone for years ahead.
