Galaxy: Structural Conflict Between SEC Custody Rules and DeFi Demand, RIA On-Chain Asset Allocation Constrained

Odaily Planet Daily reported that Galaxy stated on X platform that many Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) face difficulties in responding to client demands for allocating funds to DeFi while meeting compliance requirements under the U.S. SEC's Custody Rule. The current rule requires client assets to be held with a Qualified Custodian (QC), effectively excluding the self-custody path and making it difficult for traditional financial accounts to directly participate in DeFi strategies.

In practice, however, the technical compatibility and compliance integration costs between custodians and new public chains, tokens, and DeFi protocols are high. Most custodians also lack the capability to support DeFi interactions, resulting in a persistent "compliance infrastructure gap." Meanwhile, fiduciary duties require RIAs to not simply exclude client demand for DeFi exposure, placing institutions in a structural conflict between compliance and investment intent.

Galaxy believes that a potential future solution lies in establishing a principles-based regulatory framework, including MPC key management, governance controls, third-party audits, on-chain transparency, and rigorous protocol due diligence mechanisms. This approach would aim to unlock on-chain asset allocation capabilities without weakening regulatory objectives.