SEC Proposes Crypto Custody Standards as US Treasury Sanctions Hamas Financing Network
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed dedicated custody standards for registered investment advisers and regulated funds holding cryptocurrencies. The proposal, which is not yet final, aims to provide a framework for crypto custody and is subject to public comment.
Chair Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda credited outgoing Commissioner Hester Peirce with helping build a workable digital-asset framework.
In other news, Illinois has agreed to delay its new crypto tax by six months, matching reports of a postponement until July 1, 2027. The US Treasury has also sanctioned a Hamas financing network that used fake charities and cryptocurrencies, covering a Hamas military-wing member in Gaza, two France-based fundraisers, and two sham charities that raised over $2 million from 2020 to 2026.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved another $139 million payout to El Salvador after a waiver tied to the country's Bitcoin accumulation limit. The IMF cited better-than-expected growth and progress on Bitcoin transparency, AML, and moving the Chivo wallet to private operators.