Taylor Lindman is an American lawyer specializing in digital assets and financial technology who serves as the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Crypto Task Force. He was appointed to the position in early 2026. Prior to his government service, Lindman was a senior legal executive at Chainlink Labs and worked in private practice at the law firms Perkins Coie LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, focusing on securities law and emerging financial products. ^{[1] [2] [3]}​

Education

He studied law at University of Pennsylvania Law School from 2013 to 2016. He previously earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from The George Washington University, completing his undergraduate studies between 2008 and 2012. ^[3]​

Career

Private Practice

After graduating from law school, Lindman began his legal career in private practice. From 2016 to 2018, he worked as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He then joined Perkins Coie LLP, where he was an associate from 2018 until 2021. During his time at these firms, Lindman counseled clients on securities and banking regulations. His work involved advising on the development and implementation of compliance programs, internal controls, and policy frameworks. A significant part of his practice included matters related to novel financial products, including tokenization. ^{[1] [2]}​

Chainlink Labs

Around early 2021, Lindman transitioned from private practice to an in-house role at Chainlink Labs, a prominent company in the blockchain and oracle infrastructure space. He served with the company for approximately five years, holding positions as Associate General Counsel and later as Deputy General Counsel. ^[1]​

In his capacity as Deputy General Counsel, Lindman advised the company on a wide range of complex legal and regulatory issues at the intersection of digital assets, decentralized market infrastructure, and emerging financial technologies. His responsibilities included ensuring the company's compliance with both U.S. and international regulations. In March 2025, Lindman was a member of a Chainlink Labs delegation that met with the SEC's Crypto Task Force to engage in discussions about cryptocurrency regulation, nearly a year before he would join the same task force. ^{[1] [2]}​

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

In early 2026, Lindman was appointed Chief Counsel of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force. This specialized unit, established in March 2025, is a 14-member group dedicated to addressing legal and regulatory issues concerning cryptocurrency and digital assets. The task force is led by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who publicly confirmed and welcomed Lindman's appointment. Lindman filled the vacancy created by the departure of his predecessor, Michael Selig, in December 2025. ^{[3] [1]}​

The appointment was viewed as a significant development, as it placed a former senior executive with deep, practical experience from a major crypto-native organization into a top federal regulatory position. Lindman joined other notable staff on the task force, including Senior Advisor Landon Zinda, formerly of the advocacy group Coin Center, and Senior Advisor Veronica Reynolds, formerly of the law firm Baker Hostetler. The move highlighted a trend of regulatory bodies recruiting personnel with direct industry expertise to navigate the complexities of the digital asset space. ^{[1] [2]}​