Hester Peirce

Commissioner, Sec

Search every verified Hester Peirce interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has continued to advocate for clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets and tokenized securities. In recent appearances, she discussed the SEC's work on an "innovation exemption" for tokenized securities, which she described as "not even that big of a step" and "pretty traditional," clarifying that it would not cover synthetic securities held through special purpose vehicles. She also emphasized that the SEC and CFTC are conducting joint work to determine where products should be regulated, and that the SEC is preparing for potential rule-writing obligations if the CLARITY Act passes, which she said she expects to happen "this summer." Peirce noted that her term ended in June 2025 but she can remain until the end of 2026, and that she plans to leave before that time to teach securities regulation at a law school. Peirce stated that she is "not looking for ways to pull people into the regulatory regime that don't belong" and cautioned that "some of what's out there at least rhymes with what we see in some securities type arrangements," urging market participants to assess whether securities laws apply to their activities. She identified priorities including enabling token fundraising, updating transfer agent rules, and addressing custody issues. Peirce also stressed the importance of protecting self-custody, privacy in financial transactions, and developers' ability to write code without permission, while noting that the SEC continues to pursue enforcement against bad conduct. She encouraged builders to "build things that meet actual human needs" and to "come in and talk to us" about registration or relief.