Hester Peirce to Depart SEC Post Amid Shift in Crypto Regulation

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is leaving her post on October 2. She has been serving as a commissioner for about eight years, and since February 4, 2025, she was also director of the agency's Crypto Task Force.

In her resignation letter, Peirce thanked President Trump for the 'honor of her professional lifetime' serving as a commissioner and expressed gratitude to Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda for their leadership. She will join Regent University in Virginia as an associate professor in November, where she will help bolster the law school's focus on federal litigation, securities regulation, and digital assets.

Peirce's departure may not be immediately followed by a replacement, as her seat is unlikely to be filled until after Caroline Crenshaw's term expires. The SEC has undergone significant changes under Trump's leadership, shifting its approach to crypto regulation and enforcement.