Her planned exit after her term expired in June 2025 would thin the SEC’s commissioner roster as the agency works through key crypto rulemaking questions.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is preparing to leave the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2026 to join Regent University School of Law as an associate professor. Peirce’s second term expired on June 5, 2025, but SEC commissioners can remain in office for up to 18 months after a term ends, allowing her to serve until December 2026. Often called “Crypto Mom” for her criticism of enforcement-led digital-asset policy and support for clearer rules, Peirce has been one of the agency’s most closely watched voices on token regulation, trading platforms and blockchain innovation. Her departure would come as the SEC continues to address crypto market structure, token classification, exchange oversight, custody, staking, exchange-traded products and disclosure rules, potentially leaving the commission with a thinner active roster unless additional commissioners are confirmed.