SEC adds crypto assets to its November 19 compliance seminar for advisers

SEC Adds Crypto to Compliance Seminar for Advisers

Agenda

The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET and is fully virtual. It will be livestreamed on SEC.gov, and no advance registration is required.

Panel VI: Crypto Assets

The crypto discussion is listed as Panel VI on the agenda. It is scheduled from 4:15 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. ET, making it one of the final sessions of the day. Louis Gracia will moderate the panel. Taylor Lindman, Chief Counsel of the SEC's Crypto Task Force, is among the participants.

Background

The SEC's outreach program has historically served as a meeting point between regulators and industry representatives. These events tend to be less about announcing new rules and more about explaining how staff think about existing ones.

Implications for Advisers and the Crypto Market

The most direct audience here is compliance officers at registered investment advisers and funds. A dedicated panel featuring the Crypto Task Force's chief counsel gives those officers a structured setting to absorb the agency's current thinking. It also arrives while the custody proposal is still fresh, which could make the session a practical companion to that document.

What to Watch

What to watch is fairly concrete. First, what Lindman and the panel say about custody and self-custody, especially how staff view the conditions in the October 1 proposal. Second, whether the session hints at examination priorities for firms with crypto exposure.

Custody Proposal

The SEC's custody proposal, announced on October 1, 2026, aims to clarify who is responsible for holding crypto assets on behalf of clients. It would also extend permissible self-custody arrangements, provided certain conditions are met.

Conclusion

The event is co-sponsored by two SEC units: the Division of Examinations and the Division of Investment Management. Crypto isn't the only item on the menu. The broader agenda covers internet advisers, information security, conflicts of interest, private fund advisers, and how well compliance programs actually work.