Hester Peirce, one of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's most pro-crypto commissioners, announced her resignation effective October 2. She will join Regent University School of Law in Virginia as an associate professor in November, transitioning from her regulatory role to academia.
In a resignation letter dated September 21, Peirce thanked President Trump for her service at the SEC, describing her tenure as the honor of her professional lifetime. She emphasized the importance of innovation within regulatory frameworks, stating that maximizing people's freedom to choose what is best for themselves and their families within sensible regulatory parameters designed to give them the confidence to transact with others is a delicate and vitally important task for the regulator.
Throughout her tenure at the SEC, Peirce advocated for clear regulatory rules rather than enforcement-driven approaches. She publicly criticized the agency's enforcement actions against crypto firms, citing the 2023 action against Kraken's staking program as an example. Using enforcement actions to tell people what the law is in an emerging industry is not an efficient or fair way of regulating, she stated.
Peirce's departure creates a significant leadership gap at the SEC. The commission will be left with only two active commissioners: Chairman Paul S. Atkins and Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda. Two seats designated for Democratic commissioners remain vacant, and the White House has not announced a replacement for Peirce.
Regent University School of Law announced it will welcome Peirce to expand its programs in federal litigation, labor and employment law, securities regulation, financial markets, administrative governance, public policy, and digital assets.
