Hester Peirce, known as Crypto Mom, will step down from her position as SEC commissioner on October 2. She plans to join the Regent University School of Law as an associate professor in November, where she will teach courses on digital assets and securities regulation.
Peirce served at the commission for nearly nine years, having first taken her seat on January 11, 2018. Her second term officially expired on June 5, 2025, and she continued to serve in a holdover capacity as permitted by SEC rules for up to 18 months.
During her tenure, Peirce led the SEC Crypto Task Force. She advocated for a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets, including proposals for safe harbor periods that would allow token projects time to decentralize before being subject to full securities regulations.
Following her departure, the SEC will operate with only two seated commissioners, Paul Atkins and Mark Uyeda. This represents the minimum number required for a quorum, meaning any disagreement between the two could result in a deadlock.
The commission is designed to have five members. Filling the three current vacancies requires presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, which may result in the agency operating in a reduced capacity for several months.
