Peirce’s departure leaves the SEC with two commissioners, complicating crypto oversight as Congress debates digital asset legislation.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, known as ‘Crypto Mom,’ will leave the agency, reducing its commissioners to two. Her exit follows the January departure of Democratic Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, leaving no pending nominations to fill vacancies under President Trump’s administration.
The SEC has shifted its crypto enforcement approach since 2025, dropping several investigations into crypto firms, including those linked to Trump. The agency, alongside the CFTC, has pledged to end ‘regulatory turf wars,’ but both remain understaffed. The CFTC operates with only one commissioner, while the SEC will soon have two of five seats filled.
Lawmakers are urging Trump to nominate bipartisan commissioners as a digital asset market structure bill advances in Congress. The bill aims to clarify regulatory roles amid ongoing industry uncertainty.