Public Forum to Examine Crypto Privacy Rules and Tools
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has updated the agenda for its December 15 public roundtable on “Financial Surveillance and Privacy,” marking one of the agency’s most visible engagements with the crypto sector this year. The session, hosted at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed for remote viewers.
The event is organized by the SEC’s newly renamed Crypto Task Force, which announced a multi-panel program bringing together regulators, privacy-tech leaders, and civil-liberty advocates.
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, who leads the task force, said the roundtable offers a chance to “recalibrate financial surveillance measures” while protecting civil liberties. Peirce added that new technologies provide opportunities to improve regulatory oversight without sacrificing privacy.
Regulators Set the Stage for a High-Stakes Policy Dialogue
The SEC confirmed that senior officials, including Richard B. Gabbert (Chief of Staff, Crypto Task Force), Paul S. Atkins (Chairman), Mark T. Uyeda (Commissioner), and Peirce, will open the event with welcome remarks. Their participation underscores heightened federal attention on how privacy tools interact with compliance systems, particularly as crypto ecosystems expand.
The discussion comes at a moment when blockchain networks process rising volumes of pseudonymous transactions, and regulators increasingly rely on on-chain analytics for enforcement. Consequently, the SEC’s framing of the roundtable signals a focus on balancing anti-money laundering controls, financial-integrity safeguards, and technical innovation.
Zcash Founder Among Privacy-Focused Leaders on the First Panel
One of the most notable speakers is Zooko Wilcox, founder of Zcash, one of the earliest privacy-preserving blockchains. Wilcox will appear on the first panel, scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, alongside executives from firms specializing in advanced cryptographic tooling. Listed participants include representatives from Espresso Systems, Aleo Network Foundation, Digital Asset, Predicate, and SpruceID.
These companies collectively develop technologies such as zero-knowledge proofs, selective-disclosure systems, and identity-verification frameworks—tools that increasingly shape debates about how much privacy should be allowed in blockchain transactions. Their inclusion suggests that the SEC aims to hear technical explanations directly from builders who design privacy-first systems.
Yaya J. Fanusie, senior advisor at the Aleo Network Foundation and global head of policy, will moderate the panel. Fanusie’s background in national security analysis positions him to guide a detailed discussion on the intersection of cryptographic design and regulatory obligations.
Civil-Liberty Advocates and Policy Experts Join the Second Panel
The second panel, scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, expands the conversation to include legal and civil-liberty perspectives. Confirmed panelists represent StarkWare, the Blockchain Association, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and multiple academic institutions.
Their contributions are expected to highlight how varying interpretations of “acceptable privacy” influence rulemaking. The agenda indicates discussion of distinctions between self-custody wallets, privacy coins, mixing protocols, and regulated compliance tools, a segmentation that has increasingly shaped federal oversight strategies.
The SEC reiterated that participation in the roundtable does not imply regulatory endorsement. However, the depth of the invited voices suggests a substantive review of how privacy technologies operate within legal constraints.
What the Industry Is Watching Ahead of Dec. 15
Developers, policy analysts, and market participants are focusing on several key questions:
- •Policy direction: Will the SEC acknowledge privacy-preserving architectures as compatible with compliance frameworks?
- •Scope of acceptable privacy: Will distinctions be drawn between consumer privacy tools and systems associated with illicit finance?
- •Regulatory outcomes: Will the discussion influence future guidance, enforcement patterns, or formal rulemaking?
The roundtable arrives at a time of renewed market interest in privacy assets such as Zcash. For investors, the event may provide signals about the regulatory posture toward privacy-enhancing systems as federal agencies reassess frameworks for crypto oversight.
A Potential Milestone for Crypto Privacy and U.S. Regulation
For privacy advocates, the roundtable offers a rare public venue for technical experts and civil-liberty organizations to engage directly with federal regulators. For the SEC, it provides an opportunity to examine whether existing surveillance models align with emerging cryptographic tools.
As the crypto sector evolves, the December 15 session may mark an influential moment in defining how privacy, innovation, and regulatory clarity can coexist within the U.S. digital-asset landscape.