Crypto Mom Hester Peirce resigns from SEC for academia
6.6 Regulation Hester Peirce, "Crypto Mom," will resign from the SEC on October 2, 2026, and join Regent University School of Law as an associate professor, leaving only two SEC commissioners.
Hester Peirce, known as "Crypto Mom" for her prominent role in cryptocurrency regulation, has announced her resignation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, effective October 2, 2026. Peirce began her tenure in January 2018 and described her time at the SEC as the highest honor of her career, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve. In her resignation letter to the White House, Peirce emphasized the importance of allowing investors to make their own choices within appropriate regulatory boundaries. She voiced confidence in the SEC's continued leadership under Paul Atkins and Mark Uyeda. Her departure, anticipated due to the scheduled end of her term and SEC rules allowing an 18-month extension, will leave only two of the five SEC seats filled. Peirce will transition to academia, joining Regent University School of Law as an associate professor in November, where she will teach courses on securities regulation and digital assets. Her tenure was marked by advocacy for regulatory frameworks that balance investor protection with market innovation, including proposals for safe harbor periods for token projects and support for privacy-preserving technologies.
