WalletConnect’s Marco Santori Says Crypto Must Prove the Power of Self-Custody

Former Kraken CLO Marco Santori has come on board as a Director of the WalletConnect Foundation, representing a strategic return to his origins in self-custody advocacy. Having spent years managing legal and regulatory matters at one of crypto's most reputable exchanges, Santori now seeks to dedicate himself to tools that empower users to take complete control of their digital assets.

"Speculation has fueled adoption in crypto—that's a feature, not a bug," Santori explained to Decrypt. "But now, we need tools that demonstrate how self-custody benefits not only philosophical objectives, but practical ones as well."

Why WalletConnect

Santori explained WalletConnect was unique in being "cutting edge, ubiquitous, and broadly compatible," allowing developers to more easily integrate self-custody into their applications. The foundation has recently introduced its native WCT token, which drives staking, rewards, governance, and fees on the platform.

So far, WalletConnect has enabled over 255 million safe connections for over 45 million users across 600 wallets and 54,000 apps. The company is also setting new standards in wallet security and UX with its WalletConnect Certified kitemark, launched last year.

Regulation: A Global Balancing Act

Santori’s arrival coincides with WalletConnect navigating a complex and shifting regulatory landscape. He sees progress in Europe through the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework.

“We’re seeing fit-for-purpose regulation being created in Europe,” Santori said. “While there will be friction and disagreements, these will be resolved through both legal and regulatory channels—including ESMA guidance and no-action letters.”

Meanwhile, in the United States, Santori noted that regulation is less mature but historically more stable. He cited pending legislation such as the GENIUS Act and STABLE Act, which focus on stablecoin regulation, with broader market structure laws expected to follow.

“For anyone planning to do business in the U.S., we’re finally moving toward a functional and comprehensive regulatory regime,” he added.

Also Read: AWS Outage Hits Binance, KuCoin and Other Crypto Platforms

 Key Takeaway

Santori’s move reflects a broader industry realization: while speculation has fueled growth, self-custody tools are key to sustainable, long-term crypto adoption. As WalletConnect advances on the tech and compliance fronts, Santori’s legal expertise is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the platform’s global footprint.