SEC’s Paul Atkins: Holding Your Own Crypto Is an American Right

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In a world where financial middlemen seem to grow by the day, one regulator is standing up and saying, maybe you don’t need them. SEC Chair Paul Atkins has made it clear that self-custody of crypto is not just a technical preference; it’s something much deeper. The right to self-custody means users can hold crypto without relying on banks, exchanges, or other third parties.

Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins… and That’s the Point

If you’ve spent any time in crypto, you’ve heard the phrase. But Atkins took that message out of the crypto echo chamber and into the halls of regulation. His comments at a recent policy roundtable struck a nerve by framing self-custody as a fundamental right tied to the American way of doing things. Not a perk. Not a luxury. A right.

ATKINS: "THE RIGHT TO HAVE SELF CUSTODY OF ONES PRIVATE PROPERTY IS A FOUNDATIONAL AMERICAN VALUE THAT SHOULD NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN ONE LOGS ONTO THE INTERNET." https://t.co/fuPzYPbKvv pic.twitter.com/ziuIY0RoYs

— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) June 9, 2025

The idea is simple. If you earn money, you should be able to hold it without begging a third party for access. That’s what self-custody wallets offer. No bank to approve your transactions. No exchange to lock you out. Just you and your private keys.

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The Regulator You Didn’t Expect to Say This

The SEC isn’t known for being the friendliest face in the room when it comes to crypto. For years, the agency has tangled with projects over everything from token launches to staking. So when its chair starts saying things that sound like they came from a Bitcoin forum, people pay attention.

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Atkins didn’t just talk tech. He connected the dots between digital assets and classic American values. He brought up ideas like self-reliance and private property, drawing a straight line from the founding principles of the country to modern-day financial tools.

Lawmakers Are Watching Too

This all comes at a time when Congress is weighing different crypto bills. Some are trying to make things safer. Others, intentionally or not, could end up boxing people out of using self-custody wallets altogether.

Atkins’ message throws weight behind the idea that people shouldn’t need permission to store their assets. It’s a nudge to lawmakers to think twice before regulating these tools out of reach for everyday users.

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Could This Actually Change Things?

It might. When the chair of the SEC says something like this, it sets a tone. It doesn’t mean every law or rule is going to change overnight, but it signals where the conversation could go. And if that conversation starts happening in Washington with this kind of language, it makes it harder to push blanket restrictions without serious backlash.

Final Thoughts

In an industry that exposes users to hacks, exchange blowups, and regulatory confusion, Paul Atkins just gave a boost to something crypto users have been saying all along. Holding your own money isn’t radical. It’s responsible. And it might be one of the last things left that truly puts the power back in your hands.

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Key Takeaways

SEC Chair Paul Atkins called self-custody of crypto a fundamental American right, linking it to personal freedom and property control.

Atkins’ remarks mark a surprising shift from the SEC, which has traditionally taken a tougher stance on crypto projects and tools.

He tied self-custody to core American values like self-reliance, independence, and financial privacy.

His comments arrive as Congress debates bills that could either support or restrict the use of self-custody wallets.

While not a rule change, Atkins’ stance may influence future regulatory decisions and shape the national conversation around crypto rights.

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