SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce to resign Oct. 2 after about eight years
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce resigns, effective Oct. 2
Hester Peirce has submitted her formal resignation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the federal agency that oversees securities markets in the United States. Her resignation takes effect on Oct. 2.
Peirce is known in crypto circles as "Crypto Mom" because she has advocated for clear, rules-based regulation of the crypto industry. She posted a copy of her resignation letter on her X account, according to Cointelegraph.
About eight years on the commission
- Peirce served on the commission for about eight years.
- She has also been director of the agency's Crypto Task Force since Feb. 4, 2025. The task force looks at how existing securities laws should apply to digital assets and decentralized systems.
- Her term at the SEC officially expired in June 2025. According to the agency, commissioners may keep serving for up to about 18 months after their terms expire if they are not replaced before then.
What the resignation letter says
In the letter, Peirce thanked the president for the "honor of her professional lifetime" of serving as a commissioner. She said she was leaving the SEC under the excellent leadership of Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda. Those two are the remaining members of the commission, and both are Republicans.
Planned move to Regent University law school
Cointelegraph reported in May that Peirce planned to join the law school of Regent University in Virginia as an associate professor in November. According to the university, she is expected to help the school strengthen its academic focus in areas that include federal litigation, securities regulation and digital assets.
Her seat may not be filled right away
Peirce's seat may not be filled immediately. Caroline Crenshaw, the agency's previous Democratic commissioner, departed in January, 18 months after her term ended, and no nominations to fill that seat have been made by President Donald Trump.
Why this matters for crypto regulation
Since Trump took office in January 2025, the SEC has sharply changed its approach to crypto regulation and enforcement, according to Cointelegraph. The agency dropped several enforcement actions and investigations into crypto companies, including some tied to Trump and his family.
Cointelegraph reported in June that Peirce said publishing open-source code should not make software developers subject to federal securities regulations, weighing in on a long-running debate about developer liability in decentralized finance. Cointelegraph said her remarks aligned with the SEC's broader move away from what Atkins has described as "regulation by enforcement."
What comes next
Peirce's resignation takes effect on Oct. 2. According to the earlier report, she is expected to begin her role at Regent University in November.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.