SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has submitted her formal resignation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, effective October 2. Peirce, who has advocated for clear, rules-based regulation of the crypto industry, announced her departure via X on Friday.
Peirce served as commissioner for approximately eight years and has been director of the SEC's Crypto Task Force since February 4, 2025. Although her term officially expired in June 2025, SEC commissioners may continue to serve up to approximately 18 months after their terms expire if they are not replaced.
In her resignation letter, Peirce thanked the president for the opportunity to serve as a commissioner and noted the agency's leadership under Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda, the two remaining members and both Republicans.
Next role at Regent University
Peirce will join the law school of Regent University in Virginia as an associate professor. The university plans to leverage her expertise in federal litigation, securities regulation, and digital assets to strengthen its academic programs.
Potential vacancy and SEC leadership shift
Peirce's seat may remain unfilled for an extended period. Caroline Crenshaw, the SEC's previous Democratic commissioner, departed in January 2025, 18 months after her term ended, and no nominations to fill that vacancy have been made by President Donald Trump.
Since Trump took office in January 2025, the SEC has shifted its approach to crypto regulation and enforcement, dropping several enforcement actions and investigations into crypto companies.
Crypto Task Force work
Since its formation, the Crypto Task Force has examined how existing securities laws should apply to digital assets and decentralized systems. Under Peirce's direction, the task force has addressed topics including developer liability in decentralized finance and the application of securities regulations to open-source code publication.
