SEC and CFTC Left to Regulate Crypto with Reduced Leadership
Hester Peirce, also known as 'Crypto Mom' for her views on digital assets, is leaving the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after eight years of service. Her departure will mark only the second time in US history that the agency has operated with just two commissioners.
Peirce's last day at the SEC was set for Friday, September 29, which is about two months before the end of her second term extension. The SEC chair, Paul Atkins, and Commissioner Mark Uyeda will remain as the only two Republican members on a bipartisan panel expected to have five people.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has also been affected by Peirce's departure, which is likely to impact crypto regulation in the US. At present, CFTC Chair Michael Selig is the sole commissioner after Caroline Pham left her position as acting chair in December 2025.
The White House has not announced any nominations for the empty leadership seats at either agency, leaving some industry experts concerned about the future of crypto regulation in the US. A CFTC spokesperson stated that they are more than equipped to oversee their part of the crypto market, while a White House official said Trump intended to nominate members 'in the near future.'