SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has formally resigned from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with her departure taking effect on Oct. 2.

Known across the industry as "Crypto Mom" for her long-standing push for clear, rules-based oversight of digital assets, Peirce shared a copy of her resignation letter on her X account on Friday: https://x.com/HesterPeirce/status/2103532228667965651

In the letter, she thanked the president for what she called "the honor of her professional lifetime" serving as a commissioner, noting that she leaves the agency under the leadership of Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda — the two remaining members, both Republicans.

Peirce spent roughly eight years on the commission. In addition to her duties as a commissioner, she served as director of the agency's Crypto Task Force beginning Feb. 4, 2025. Although her official term expired in June 2025, commissioners "may continue to serve up to approximately 18 months after terms expire if they are not replaced before then," according to the agency. Her departure leaves the SEC's crypto policy work under a two-member commission while the vacant seat remains unfilled.

Peirce heads to law school as associate professor

Cointelegraph reported in May that Peirce planned to join Regent University's law school in Virginia as an associate professor starting in November. According to the university, she is expected to help strengthen the school's academic focus in several areas, including federal litigation, securities regulation, and digital assets.

Her SEC seat may not be filled right away. Caroline Crenshaw, the agency's previous Democratic commissioner, departed in January — 18 months after her term ended — and President Donald Trump has made no nomination to fill the open position.

Crypto policy under the Trump-era SEC

Since Trump took office in January 2025, the SEC has radically changed its approach to crypto regulation and enforcement. The agency dropped several enforcement actions and investigations into crypto companies, including those tied to Trump and his family.

Since its formation, the Crypto Task Force has been examining how existing securities laws should apply to digital assets and decentralized systems. Cointelegraph reported in June that Peirce said publishing open-source code should not subject software developers to federal securities regulations, weighing in on a longstanding debate over developer liability in decentralized finance.

Her remarks aligned with the SEC's broader shift away from what Atkins has described as "regulation by enforcement."