Taylor Lindman Leaves Chainlink Labs to Lead SEC Crypto Task Force Counsel
Washington, D.C., Feb. 24 2026 – The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force announced on Monday that Taylor Lindman, who served as deputy general counsel at Chainlink Labs for the past five years, will assume the position of chief counsel for the unit. Lindman succeeds Michael Selig, who vacated the role after his appointment as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Chainlink Labs confirmed the transition via an X post, thanking Lindman for his contributions to the company’s legal and regulatory strategy. The SEC, represented by Commissioner Hester Peirce, who oversees the Crypto Task Force, also posted a brief statement on X, expressing confidence that Lindman’s experience will benefit the agency’s work on digital‑asset regulation.
Professional background
Lindman brings roughly ten years of legal practice to the SEC. Before joining Chainlink Labs, he worked as an associate at the firms Perkins Coie (2018‑2021) and Debevoise & Plimpton (2016‑2018), focusing on technology and financial services matters. At Chainlink, his responsibilities spanned from overseeing compliance with U.S. and foreign regulatory regimes to advising senior management on risk and policy issues. Notably, he participated in a March 2025 delegation that met with the Crypto Task Force to discuss token classification and securities‑record‑keeping standards.
The role of chief counsel
The chief counsel of the Crypto Task Force functions as the senior legal advisor to the group, shaping the interpretation of securities law as it applies to blockchain projects, guiding compliance initiatives, and supporting the task force’s outreach to industry stakeholders. Lindman’s appointment follows a trend of the SEC bringing seasoned crypto‑industry lawyers into its policy‑making apparatus.
Context within the Task Force
The Crypto Task Force was created in early 2025 under Commissioner Peirce’s leadership to provide a dedicated forum for regulators, market participants, and academics to address emerging challenges in the crypto sector. The original roster of fourteen members included a mixture of career SEC staff and external experts from the blockchain ecosystem. Senior advisors such as former Coin Center policy director Landon Zinda and ex‑Baker Hostetler associate Veronica Reynolds continue to serve alongside the new chief counsel.
Michael Selig’s departure to head the CFTC highlights the fluid movement of legal talent between the two primary U.S. regulators of digital assets, underscoring the importance both agencies place on seasoned industry insight.
Analysis
Lindman’s shift to the SEC may signal a deeper integration of pragmatic, industry‑derived perspectives into the commission’s regulatory framework. His hands‑on experience with Chainlink’s compliance program and direct engagement with the task force in the past could accelerate the development of clearer guidance on issues such as token taxonomy, custody rights, and reporting obligations.
However, the appointment also raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, as the SEC will now rely on counsel who recently represented a high‑profile blockchain provider. The agency has indicated that standard ethics procedures will be applied, but observers will likely monitor how Lindman navigates the transition, especially in matters where Chainlink’s interests intersect with broader policy debates.
Key takeaways
- Lindman’s expertise: A decade of legal practice, including senior compliance work at Chainlink Labs, equips him to steer the task force’s legal strategy.
- Continuity of leadership: He replaces Michael Selig, who left to become CFTC chair, maintaining a pipeline of experienced crypto lawyers within U.S. regulators.
- Regulatory focus: The Crypto Task Force will continue its outreach on token classification, record‑keeping, and custody rights, now with a chief counsel familiar with industry‑level implementation challenges.
- Potential impact: Lindman’s insider view may help the SEC formulate more practical guidance, but the move will be scrutinized for any perceived bias toward former employer interests.
- Broader trend: The appointment reflects an ongoing pattern of regulators recruiting talent from the private crypto sector to bridge the gap between fast‑evolving technology and existing securities law.
The SEC has not provided a timeline for any policy changes stemming from Lindman’s hire, but the agency’s recent activity—roundtables, industry surveys, and public comment periods—suggests that concrete regulatory proposals could be on the horizon.
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