Key Points

• Taylor Lindman, formerly deputy general counsel at Chainlink Labs, has joined the SEC’s Crypto Task Force as chief counsel.

• He replaces Michael Selig, who departed the role to become chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

• Lindman brings over a decade of legal experience and deep familiarity with crypto regulatory compliance.

New Legal Chief for SEC’s Crypto Unit

Taylor Lindman has been appointed chief counsel of the Crypto Task Force at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Lindman previously served as deputy general counsel at Chainlink Labs, where he spent more than five years overseeing regulatory compliance across U.S. and international jurisdictions.

His appointment fills a vacancy left by Michael Selig, who departed in December to become chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Role of Chief Counsel

As chief counsel, Lindman will act as the senior legal advisor to the task force, guiding statutory interpretation, regulatory policy analysis and enforcement coordination related to digital assets.

The position carries significant influence in shaping how the SEC approaches token classification, securities registration standards and crypto compliance frameworks.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who leads the Crypto Task Force, publicly welcomed Lindman’s appointment and signaled optimism about the unit’s direction.

From Industry to Regulator

Lindman’s move reflects a broader trend of crypto-native professionals entering regulatory roles.

During his time at Chainlink, he was involved in discussions with U.S. regulators regarding token taxonomy and record-keeping standards. His experience spans private practice as well, including roles at Perkins Coie and Debevoise & Plimpton before joining the blockchain sector.

His background provides the SEC with an insider’s perspective on decentralized infrastructure, oracle networks and compliance challenges facing Web3 companies.

Broader Crypto Representation at the SEC

The SEC’s Crypto Task Force, announced in March 2025, includes a mix of agency veterans and industry-experienced advisors.

Among them is Landon Zinda, formerly of Coin Center, and Veronica Reynolds, who previously worked at Baker Hostetler advising on digital asset matters.

The task force was formed amid a more accommodative policy tone under President Donald Trump’s administration, with a mandate to engage industry participants through roundtables and consultation initiatives.

A Regulatory Inflection Point

Lindman’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for digital asset oversight in the United States. Stablecoin legislation, tokenization frameworks and exchange regulation are all under active review.

The addition of a former senior legal executive from a major blockchain firm signals an attempt to blend institutional regulatory rigor with practical industry knowledge.

Whether that balance results in clearer rules or more refined enforcement remains to be seen — but the revolving door between crypto firms and regulators continues to shape the evolving landscape.