Internet reports that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins said on Monday local time that the current framework that allows brokers to serve as custodians of digital assets may need to be repealed and replaced, and revealed that it is considering granting hedge funds the right to independently manage crypto assets. Currently, only two institutions in the United States are licensed as "special purpose broker-dealers". Atkins pointed out at the Digital Assets Roundtable that the sluggish response stems from "significant restrictions" set by the previous administration. He emphasized: "Broker-dealers have never been prohibited from hosting non-securities crypto assets or crypto securities." But he also pointed out that the SEC may need to clarify how customer protection and capital requirements apply to such institutions. Atkins has asked SEC staff to explore new paths for cryptocurrency regulation, including studying whether to amend custody rules to allow hedge funds, trading companies and investment advisers to self-custody of digital assets.