The SEC has appointed Taylor Lindman, formerly deputy general counsel at Chainlink Labs, as chief counsel for its Crypto Task Force, succeeding Michael Selig who moved to become CFTC chair late last year.

Lindman’s appointment fills the vacancy left by Selig after he departed the chief counsel role to lead the CFTC, a transition that underscores the regulatory shift at the agency.

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Lindman’s background at Chainlink gives him insider insight into oracle networks and DeFi infrastructure, which could influence how regulators view data provision, token taxonomy, and cross‑chain services.

During more than five years at Chainlink, Lindman held senior legal roles focused on oracle networks and institutional finance data infrastructure.

Lindman’s Chainlink tenure provides the SEC with technical expertise that could shape enforcement and policy development around oracles and DeFi.

While at Chainlink, Lindman coordinated regulatory compliance and participated in a March 2025 delegation to discuss crypto regulation, including token taxonomy and securities record-keeping.

Other Crypto Task Force members include Landon Zinda and Veronica Reynolds, bringing a mix of policy and legal experience to the group.

Regulatory momentum since 2021 has involved enforcement actions against major crypto players and ongoing debates over how securities laws apply to digital assets.

Industry and regulatory reactions to the hire are mixed: some see it as informed regulation, while others worry about potential insider influence; traditional regulators view it as adaptive oversight.

Analysts argue Lindman’s move reflects a maturation in cryptocurrency policy, balancing enforcement with technical nuance and global interoperability considerations.

Chainlink welcomed Lindman’s departure and said the company looks forward to collaboration on modernizing the U.S. financial system.