SEC's 'Crypto Mom' Hester Peirce Resigns, Effective October 2

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, widely known as "Crypto Mom" for her pro-industry stance on digital asset regulation, has formally resigned from the US Securities and Exchange Commission effective October 2. Peirce, who served on the commission for approximately eight years, posted a copy of her resignation letter on her X account Friday, thanking President Donald Trump for the "honor of her professional lifetime." Her departure leaves Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda—the agency's two remaining members and both Republicans—as the sole commissioners.

Peirce's tenure extended well beyond her official term expiration in June 2025, as SEC commissioners are permitted to continue serving up to roughly 18 months if not replaced. Since February 2025, she also led the agency's Crypto Task Force, which has been examining how existing securities laws apply to digital assets and decentralized systems. During that time, Peirce advocated for clearer regulatory frameworks, argued that publishing open-source code should not subject developers to federal securities liability, and championed moving away from the SEC's prior "regulation by enforcement" approach under former Chair Gary Gensler.

Following her exit, Peirce will join Regent University School of Law in Virginia as an associate professor in November, where she is expected to focus on federal litigation, securities regulation, and digital assets. Her seat may remain vacant for an extended period—Caroline Crenshaw, the previous Democratic commissioner, departed in January, 18 months after her term ended, with no nomination yet made by Trump to fill that vacancy. Under the current administration, the SEC has dropped several enforcement actions and investigations into crypto companies, including probes tied to Trump and his family, signaling a broader industry-friendly pivot as Peirce concludes her public service.