Hester M. Peirce Expected to Leave the SEC on October 2, 2026
According to CoinDesk, SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce is expected to leave the U.S. regulator on October 2, 2026. The SEC has not independently confirmed the date or her successor.
Hester Peirce’s departure from the SEC is expected to take place on October 2, 2026, according to information from CoinDesk. Peirce has served on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2018 and is still listed on the regulator’s website as head of the Crypto Task Force, a working group focused on crypto assets.
The SEC has not yet published a separate official announcement on its website regarding the date of her departure or her successor. It is therefore not confirmed who could replace Peirce as head of the working group.
Hester Peirce’s departure comes after her term ended
Peirce’s regular term ended in 2025. SEC rules, however, allow commissioners to continue serving for approximately 18 months after the end of their regular term.
Peirce has been an SEC commissioner since 2018. Her name is associated with digital assets primarily through the Crypto Task Force. The SEC describes the group on its website as an entity focused on creating a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets and coordinating related work within the agency.
Her departure from the SEC would also precede her planned move into academia. In May, Regent University announced that Peirce would join Regent University School of Law as an Associate Professor in November 2026.
Leadership of the Crypto Task Force remains an open question
The immediate uncertainty after the announced departure date concerns the leadership of the Crypto Task Force. It has not been confirmed who will take over the group or whether its mandate or work schedule will change.
For companies and participants in the digital asset market, the continuity of the rules and guidance being developed by the SEC is particularly important. The departure of one commissioner, however, does not automatically mean a change in the agency’s overall policy.
Further developments may be clarified by an official SEC statement on the departure date and successor. Any announcement by the White House or Senate regarding the vacant commissioner position will also be closely watched, as will the SEC’s subsequent steps on crypto asset regulation after October 2, 2026.
Sources
- CoinDesk – Reports that Peirce announced her resignation and that her last day is expected to be October 2, 2026.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — SEC Commissioners – Confirms that Peirce has been a commissioner since 2018, that her term ended in 2025, and that commissioners may remain for approximately 18 months after their term ends.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Crypto Task Force – Lists Peirce as head of the Crypto Task Force and describes the group’s mandate.
- Regent University – Confirms that Peirce is expected to join Regent University’s law school in November 2026.
Verified and updated: September 26, 2026 15:19
