SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has cautioned that crypto vaults and lending strategies using smart contracts may fall under federal securities laws. Peirce's statement emphasized that bringing crypto assets "on-chain" does not exempt them from regulatory scrutiny. She highlighted that activities involving staking, lending allocations, and interest rate decisions could classify as common enterprises or investment companies, potentially triggering securities law requirements. Peirce encouraged industry participants to engage with the SEC to explore compliance pathways and discuss potential adjustments to existing regulations to better accommodate on-chain financial activities. Her remarks underscore the need for crypto practitioners to carefully assess their operations against securities law criteria.