The Securities and Exchange Commission will hold another crypto-regulation roundtable on April 11th to attract participation from executives and supporters who have previously clashed with the agency.
The titled session between the block and hardplace is a coordinating regulation for crypto transactions, hosted at the SEC’s Washington, DC headquarters and streamed live through its website.
The composition of that panel shows the change in the committee’s strategy under the Crypto Task Force of Representative Chairs Mark Weda and Commissioners Hester Perth, seeking insights from companies once in the regulatory crosshairs.
The Round Table features senior representatives from UNISWAP Labs, Coinbase, Cumberland DRW and Texture Capital, as well as financial scholars and veterans from market infrastructure. Many attendees represent companies or positions involved in public disputes or enforcement actions with the SEC, and introduce the intentional readjustment of dialogue channels between the institution and the digital asset sector.
Legal combatants will recast as advisors
Among the most well-known inclusions is Katherine Minarik, Chief Legal Officer of UNISWAP Labs. Her company received a Wells notification in 2024, allegedly running an unregistered Exchange and Broker platform. Before joining UNISWAP, Minarik led the suit at Coinbase during his long-term battle with the SEC, including enforcement litigation and investigative probes.
The SEC then dropped the lawsuit against Coinbase and concluded its investigation into UNISWAP.
Similarly, Chelsea Pizzola, the advisory adviser to the Cumberland DRW Association, brings the background marked by enforcement tensions. In October 2024, her company faced an SEC lawsuit to enforce billions of dollars in crypto transactions without proper registration.
DRW has a challenging track record of regulatory boundaries, including successful legal contests against CFTC during Gary Gensler’s tenure. Pizzola publicly describes the company’s failed attempt to register Crypto Broker-Dealer, highlighting the unresolved friction currently frames her role on the panel.
Greg Tusar, Coinbase’s Vice President of Institutional Products, will also appear, representing another company previously under SEC scrutiny. Coinbase was one of the most prominent targets of the “enforcement regulation” tactics, a model currently being reviewed.
Expert Witness with a Disputed History
The roundtable also features Christine Parlor of Berkeley, California, a frequent academic contributor to the Defi discourse. Parler’s previous attempts to serve as expert witnesses in cryptography-related court cases have been rejected by the court. This cited the possibility of misleading ju umpires and the lack of rigorous methodology. Nevertheless, she is currently taking part in a critical regulatory roundtable as a guest of the SEC.
Dave Lauer and We The Investors, co-founders of Urvin Finance, have similarly contested records. The exchange operator criticizes the basic assumptions and procurement of his analysis, and questioning his credibility as an expert witness in high-frequency trading litigation.
Nevertheless, Lauer’s grassroots advocacy and prior testimony before the Senate Banking Committee run for regulatory conversations, particularly regarding market equity and transparency.
Regulation context signals policy shifts
Panelist selection coincides with a broader movement, from punitive enforcement and towards participatory regulations.
Recent SEC decisions to end actions against companies such as Robinhood and Coinbase could confirm the decline in the era of enforcement-led crypto surveillance. Paul Atkins, a former SEC committee member who has now been appointed to return to chair, advocates a practical regulatory framework that clarifies compliance expectations, rather than imposing retrospective penalties.
Peirce’s Crypto Task Force committee member positioned the Roundtable series as a mechanism for gathering stakeholder feedback and exploring a nuanced approach to rulemaking. One of several plans, the current session represents a litmus test of whether the committee is ready to design the next iteration of crypto governance with previous hostile voices.
Nicholas Losurdo, a former SEC advisor and now a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, eases the discussion. Rosaldo’s role in bridging regulatory and industry perspectives may reflect the intended tone of the gathering. The enemy will turn the advisors and ultimately form a framework that defines the SEC’s future stance on digital assets.
