Trump’s SEC launches ‘crypto task force’ to provide clear guidelines for digital assets

Commissioner Hester Peirce during an open meeting of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Things are happening fast at the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the new Trump administration. On Monday, former SEC chair (and crypto critic) Gary Gensler resigned. President Donald J. Trump appointed Mark T. Uyeda as Acting Chairman of the agency on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Uyeda launched a crypto task force dedicated to developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets – and named “CryptoMom” Hester Peirce to lead the new task force.

Peirce received her nickname by the industry over the years for her supportive stance on digital assets – and her criticism of over-regulation of these assets. She was appointed by President Trump to the SEC in 2018. Before joining the SEC, Peirce researched financial markets at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center. She was also a senior counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.