Bitcoin Self-Custody Framed as Civil Liberty at Bitcoin 2026 Conference

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To kick off The Bitcoin 2026 Conference, panelists across policy, finance, and technology discussed the growing push to define bitcoin self-custody as a protected civil liberty. Joe Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Unchained, Nick Begich, a U.S. Congressman, and Zach Herbert, CEO of Foundation Devices, spoke on bitcoin self-custody rights. Congressman Nick Begich, who began acquiring bitcoin in January 2013 and witnessed the Mt. Gox collapse, said private property rights remain fundamental to American principles and must extend into digital assets. “Private property rights are fundamental to the American Idea. I think it needs to extend into the digital space and we need to make sure that our legal structures are enshrining those rights when it comes to bitcoin and other assets,” Congressman Begich said. Zach Herbert, CEO of Foundation Devices, described self-custody as a “gateway drug” to broader digital security practices and emphasized its importance for sovereignty, privacy, and core American values. Kelly added onto the conversation and referenced Mt. Gox and framed self-custody as critical to American national identity, linking it to the preservation of land rights and digital rights. The government does not have the right to seize your bitcoin Later on in the conversation, Congressman Begich cited the 1933 government confiscation of privately held gold as a warning for bitcoin holders, arguing that history shows governments under pressure will seize assets and that self-custody protects against centralized confiscation. He displayed a copy of the Bitcoin Act on stage and read from the text, which states the legislation “affirms and protects the rights of persons to maintain full lawful control over the bitcoin and other digital assets of those individuals.” Begich said the president can advance bitcoin policy but cannot create law through executive order, and Congress must act now because future administrations may reverse course. Herbert said the industry must improve the user experience for self-custody tools, creating solutions that are simple to set up but include multiple safety features. Kelly also touched on the future of self-custody and said success in the space depends on maintaining security while preserving access to financial services. Moving forward and touching on current crypto legislation, Congressman Begich acknowledged that passing legislation remains difficult, citing that 90% of bills fail to become law, but urged the bitcoin community to contact their representatives to advance self-custody protections. Moderator Grant McCarty of the Bitcoin Policy Institute said American rights are not guaranteed and require active defense.

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