Hester Peirce, who served as commissioner of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for two terms, will serve as a faculty member at Regent University School of Law starting in November. Known in the industry as “Crypto Mom,” Peirce also led the SEC’s cryptocurrency task force.
Vacant seats in the SEC and the effects of the new era
Peirce’s tenure at the SEC officially ends in June 2025. However, according to US law, commissioners can remain in office for approximately 18 months unless a new appointment is made. After Peirce’s departure, only two Republican commissioners will remain at the SEC; these will be Mark Uyeda and Commission President Paul Atkins.
Democratic commissioner Caroline Crenshaw left the institution in January and her replacement has not yet been appointed. Currently, US President Donald Trump has not yet announced new commissioner candidates for both institutions.
Mini dictionary: SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is the government agency that oversees and regulates the stock market and securities markets in the United States. CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) is responsible for the regulation of commodity futures markets, and its supervisory authority over crypto assets has also been a matter of debate in recent years.
Areas of focus in Peirce’s new role
Regent University said in a statement that Peirce will contribute to developing the school’s academic studies in areas such as federal litigation, securities regulation and digital assets. Peirce is expected to provide significant support, especially in digital asset law issues, with his experience in the sector.
Regent University emphasized that with the participation of Hester Peirce, the law school will strengthen in the fields of digital assets, securities and federal litigation. University officials are of the opinion that Peirce’s active background in the American financial regulation system will contribute to the sector.
New appointment expectations at SEC and CFTC
The SEC and CFTC, which are responsible for regulating crypto markets in the USA, have determined a new road map under the Trump administration. Since the beginning of the year, the SEC has withdrawn some investigations and enforcement actions regarding crypto companies. Michael Selig, who served as CFTC Chairman and was also appointed by Trump, stated that regulatory institutions would work together.
On the other hand, if the market structure law called “CLARITY Act”, which is on the agenda in Congress, comes into force, a significant part of the supervision responsibility of crypto markets may pass from the SEC to the CFTC. Once the regulation in question becomes law, it is anticipated that the CFTC will play a more effective and decisive role in crypto.
Currently, only Michael Selig serves as chairman of the CFTC, and the agency must consist of five members to operate at full capacity. The number of commissioners in the SEC will decrease from five to two with Pierce’s departure. The Trump administration has not yet announced new candidate names for these two institutions.
Who is Peirce?
Hester Peirce was appointed SEC commissioner by then-President Donald Trump in 2018 and was confirmed for her second term in 2020. He was previously nominated under President Barack Obama but not appointed by the Senate. Peirce stands out with his constructive approach towards cryptocurrencies and his call for “clear rules” regarding regulations. She is well known in the industry with the nickname “Crypto Mom”.
