# SECWarnsOnChainLendingMayFallUnderSecuritiesLaw

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce issued a statement warning that crypto vaults and on-chain lending strategies may be subject to federal securities law. The key point: moving activities on-chain does not automatically exempt them from securities regulation. If vault operators are involved in selecting yield strategies or reallocating assets, they may trigger securities law compliance obligations. Some vault structures could be classified as common enterprises or investment companies. On-chain lending activities — including interest rate setting, asset eligibility, and liquidation thresholds — may also implicate securities laws, with certain loans potentially deemed securities under specific conditions. Peirce stated the SEC welcomes proactive engagement from market participants to explore rule revisions. DeFi is not a regulatory safe haven — the more managerial discretion, the clearer the compliance obligations.