The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is facing difficulties in hiring crypto experts due to a number of factors, including a limited pool of qualified candidates, competition from the private sector, and the SEC's ethics rules that prohibit employees from holding cryptocurrencies. A report by the SEC's Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the SEC has a "small candidate pool of qualified experts" in cryptocurrencies. The report also found that the SEC is facing competition from the private sector, which is offering higher salaries and more flexible work arrangements to crypto experts.