The US SEC’s Crypto Task Force has scheduled a roundtable discussion focused on “privacy and financial surveillance” in December. The timing is notable, as interest in privacy has surged across the crypto industry, amidst the growing adoption of privacy-focused tools and a surge in interest of privacy-focused coins.
The roundtable is set for December 15. The event will be webcast, and the details on the agenda and the panelists will be released soon. Leaders from the crypto industry and the SEC officials will discuss the challenges and possible solutions to it.
The Growing Interest in Privacy
Privacy has taken the spotlight in crypto discussions, driven by several high-profile cases, including the verdict for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and the sentencing of the Samourai Wallet developer.
Legal experts say that the verdict in the Storm trial and other cases targeting open-source developers who built non-custodial, privacy-focused tools sends a troubling message about the future of privacy tech in the U.S.
Many argue that these prosecutions are meant to discourage developers from creating privacy-protecting technologies.
Privacy Coins Rally
There has also been a notable surge in privacy-focused token prices over the past few months.
Zcash, a privacy-focused coin, has been one of the strongest performers this year. Despite the recent crypto market slump, it had surged to as high as $700, and is currently trading at $618.04. It is up over 130% over the past 30 days.
The Need For Privacy
a16z’s State of Crypto report 2025 highlights that the need for privacy is more urgent than ever as crypto becomes more mainstream.
Google searches for crypto privacy have surged in 2025. Zcash’s shielded pool neared 4 million ZEC, and Railgun’s private transaction volume passed $200 million a month.
Momentum is building on the development side, too.
The Ethereum Foundation launched a dedicated privacy team, Paxos teamed up with Aleo to create a private and compliant stablecoin, and OFAC lifted sanctions on decentralized privacy protocol, Tornado Cash. The trend is expected to gain even more momentum in the years ahead as crypto continues to go mainstream.
Moreover, the zero-knowledge (ZK) and succinct proof systems are rapidly evolving from academic research into critical infrastructure. They are now built into rollups, compliance tools, and even major web platforms.
The SEC roundtable comes at a crucial moment, and it also highlights the SEC’s growing focus on privacy in the evolving crypto landscape.
Trust with CoinPedia:
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:
All opinions and insights shared represent the author’s own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored and Advertisements:
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
