crypto vaults

Financial Times: Crypto vault deposits have climbed to more than $10 billion
Crypto vault deposits top $10 billion as sector expands
SEC
2026-07-22 14:31:37

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Says Crypto Vaults and On-Chain Lending May Fall Under Federal Securities Laws

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Hester Peirce said crypto activity is not automatically outside the scope of federal securities law simply because it takes place on-chain. In a statement released on July 22, Peirce said many crypto assets and related activities may sit outside securities rules, but that does not exempt every structure used in the sector. If an activity would otherwise fall under securities law, moving it onto blockchain rails usually does not change its legal character. Peirce focused on crypto asset vaults that use smart contracts to allocate user funds into yield strategies such as staking and lending. She said securities law questions may arise when an operator selects those strategies, reallocates assets, or appoints decision-makers. Some vaults, she added, could be treated as common enterprises in which profits depend on the efforts of managers, or could trigger rules tied to investment companies, unit investment trusts, or investment advisers. She also said on-chain lending strategies may raise similar issues. Managers that set interest rates, collateral assets, loan-to-value ratios, and liquidation thresholds should assess whether their activities are regulated. In some cases, on-chain loans may also be treated as notes with security-like features depending on transaction purpose and distribution arrangements.

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SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Says Crypto Vaults and On-Chain Lending May Fall Under Federal Securities Laws