Former Chainlink Deputy General Counsel Named Chief Counsel of SEC Crypto Task Force
After spending five years as deputy general counsel at Chainlink Labs, Taylor Lindman has moved to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Crypto Task Force, assuming the position of chief counsel.
Following a five-year tenure as deputy general counsel at blockchain company Chainlink Labs, Taylor Lindman has taken on a new position as chief counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission's Crypto Task Force, stepping into a vacancy previously held by Michael Selig, who now chairs the CFTC.
Chainlink Labs made public Lindman's transition in a Monday post on X, acknowledging his half-decade contribution to the organization while officially announcing his move to the SEC's Crypto Task Force.
We thank Taylor for his great five years as a key part of the Chainlink Labs team in his role as deputy general counsel. We all look forward to modernizing the US financial system together, taking it to the next level of its development and rapid growth.
Chainlink Labs
The announcement was further validated by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who oversees the Crypto Task Force, as she welcomed Lindman's appointment via X, expressing anticipation for "great things!" in the future.
The position of chief counsel traditionally encompasses responsibilities as the primary legal advisor, providing guidance on legal matters, overseeing regulatory compliance, mitigating legal risks and assisting executive leadership in strategic decision-making processes.
Lindman brings a decade of legal experience to the SEC
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lindman dedicated over five years to Chainlink, holding multiple positions throughout his time there, which included serving as deputy general counsel and associate general counsel.
Throughout his time with Chainlink, Lindman's responsibilities centered on maintaining adherence to both domestic US regulations and international legal frameworks, and he also served as a member of a team that engaged with the Crypto Task Force in March 2025 for discussions on cryptocurrency regulatory matters, encompassing token classification frameworks and securities documentation standards.
Prior to his role at Chainlink, Lindman practiced law as an associate with Perkins Coie between 2018 and 2021 and worked at Debevoise & Plimpton from 2016 through 2018.
Lindman takes over from Selig, who occupied the chief counsel position until December of last year, at which point he transitioned to his current role as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Other experienced crypto hands at the SEC
In March 2025, Peirce revealed the initial roster of 14 Crypto Task Force members, a group that featured multiple professionals with cryptocurrency industry backgrounds alongside personnel drawn from the chairman's office and various divisions and departments throughout the commission.
Serving as a senior advisor to the task force is Landon Zinda, who previously held the position of policy director at Coin Center from March 2023 through February 2025.
Another senior advisor on the task force, Veronica Reynolds, comes from a background as an associate at Baker Hostetler, a legal firm that maintains a specialized practice group concentrating on digital assets and Web3 technology.
The formation of the SEC Crypto Task Force came about as a result of a more accommodating regulatory approach adopted by the incoming Trump administration. In the time since its establishment, the task force has organized and conducted roundtable discussions and industry tours designed to collect input and perspectives from cryptocurrency industry participants, academic experts and market stakeholders regarding the regulation of digital assets.