According to Bloomberg, citing sources, a new proposal by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intends to change the "qualified custodian" rules, making it more difficult for hedge funds, private equity firms and pension funds to cooperate with many encryption companies. Hedge funds and some private equity firms and pension funds are currently required to use "qualified custodians" to hold client assets, and if finalized, the rule could mean institutional funds may have to move their client assets elsewhere Unannounced audits related to their guardianship or other consequences. The proposal needs to be approved by a majority of the five-member SEC before it is open for public comment, and then the SEC will have to vote again after considering the feedback to finalize the rule.