Crypto Mom Peirce Departs SEC After Nearly Nine Years Advocating for Digital Assets

Hester Peirce, known as 'Crypto Mom,' has left her position as an SEC commissioner after nearly nine years of advocating for digital assets. Her departure on October 2, 2026, marks the end of a tenure that spanned two presidential administrations. The commission is now down to two members: Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda, both Republican appointees.

Peirce announced her resignation on September 25, stating it was 'the honor of my professional lifetime.' Her term technically expired in June 2025, but she stayed on for over a year as a holdover. She will be taking an associate professor position at Regent University School of Law in November.

Peirce's work on the SEC Crypto Task Force had a significant impact on token classification and staking guidance. The commission issued a five-year innovation exemption allowing US stocks to trade on-chain using automated market makers, and the GENIUS Act, stablecoin legislation, was enacted in 2025 while she was still at the agency.