SEC's New Roundtable: What, Why and When
On December 5, 2025, the SEC officially released a press statement announcing the agenda and panelists for a rescheduled "Roundtable on Financial Surveillance and Privacy."
The roundtable will be held at the agency's headquarters — 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. — on December 15, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). It will be open to the public, and for those unable to attend physically, the discussion will be webcast live on the SEC website; online registration is not required for webcast access.
Objective: Use "new technologies" as a "fresh opportunity to recalibrate financial surveillance measures" — balancing oversight with protection of individual liberties and privacy.
The roundtable had earlier been scheduled for October 17, 2025, but was postponed. The November 21 update rescheduled it to mid-December.
Who Will Speak — Agenda and Panelists
The December 15 gathering features opening remarks from senior SEC/Crypto Task Force leadership — followed by presentations and a substantive policy panel.
Opening / Welcome Remarks (1:00–1:30 p.m.)
| Richard B. Gabbert | Chief of Staff, Crypto Task Force |
| Paul S. Atkins | Chairman, SEC |
| Mark T. Uyeda | Commissioner, SEC |
| Hester M. Peirce | Commissioner, head of Crypto Task Force |
Presentations on Financial Surveillance & Privacy (1:30–3:00 p.m.)
- Jill Gunter — Chief Strategy Officer, Espresso Systems
- Zooko Wilcox — Founder, Zcash
- Koh — CEO & Executive Director, Aleo Network Foundation
- Simon Letort — Head of Strategic Initiatives, Digital Asset
- Nikhil Raghuveera — Co-Founder & CEO, Predicate
- Wayne Chang — Founder & CEO, SpruceID
Policy Panel on Surveillance and Privacy (3:30–5:00 p.m.)
Moderator: Yaya J. Fanusie (Senior Advisor, Crypto Council for Innovation; Global Head of Policy, Aleo Network Foundation)
| Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos | General Counsel, StarkWare |
| Carole House | CEO, Penumbra Strategies |
| Linda Jeng | CEO, Digital Self Labs |
| Summer Mersinger | CEO, Blockchain Association |
| Jay Stanley | Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU |
| J.W. Verret | Associate Professor of Law, George Mason Law |
| Steve Yelderman | General Counsel, Etherealize |
Why the Roundtable Matters — Context & Stakes
📌 Why Financial Surveillance & Privacy Are on the Agenda
Regulators seek to prevent illicit finance while privacy becomes increasingly valued. Digital assets and privacy tech (zero-knowledge proofs, privacy-coins) create a dilemma: prevent abuse while preserving innovation.
🔄 Shift in Regulatory Tone
Part of Crypto Task Force's move from enforcement to consultative rule-building. Multiple roundtables this year on trading, custody, tokenization, DeFi.
🌐 Crypto Privacy Imperative
New protocols prioritize privacy and user sovereignty. Roundtable bridges crypto philosophy with regulatory demands.
What to Expect — Key Themes
- What does "financial surveillance" mean for blockchain systems?
- Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) without enabling illicit finance?
- Balancing transparency, compliance, and privacy rights
- What "crypto clarity" looks like for all stakeholders
- Public participation in regulatory process
Potential Outcomes & Significance
- ✅ Framework for "Privacy-Friendly Compliance"
- 🛡️ Balanced rules against illicit use
- 🔄 Regulatory clarity encouraging innovation
- ⚖️ Global regulatory model
Risks & Challenges
- Regulatory capture and conflicting interests
- Technology misuse risks
- Implementation complexity
- Global regulatory divergence
- Political shifts
Why This Matters — Broader Implications
Fundamental questions about financial privacy, regulatory monitoring, decentralized finance, and civil liberties in the digital age.
Looking Ahead — What to Watch
- Post-event SEC report or guidance
- Follow-up regulatory proposals
- Industry and advocate reactions
- Global regulatory ripple effects
- Adoption of privacy-friendly solutions
Conclusion
The SEC's December 15, 2025 roundtable marks a pivotal moment for crypto regulation, financial surveillance, and digital privacy. By convening diverse experts and opening to public view, the SEC signals readiness to balance oversight with individual privacy — potentially reshaping the future of digital finance.