- The SEC is reassessing past crypto enforcement actions under the Trump administration.
- Hester Peirce advocates for a balanced regulatory framework to foster crypto innovation.
Under the leadership of SEC Chair Gary Gensler and President Joe Biden, the crypto industry faced intense scrutiny, legal battles, and regulatory hurdles.
However, with Donald Trump standing as the 47th U.S. president, a pro-crypto shift appears to be underway, bringing renewed optimism to the sector.
In a sign of changing tides, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has revealed that the agency is reassessing its past enforcement actions against crypto firms.
Hester Peirce to revamp the SEC’s anti-crypto approach
Remarking on the same, during a “Bloomberg Crypto” TV interview, Peirce said,
“During the past several years, enforcement cases have been used as a way to make regulatory policy; that is very atypical. We’re trying to get back to a path where we’re really using our other tools to make policy.”
In fact, commissioner Hester Peirce had also outlined her vision for a dedicated task force aimed at crafting a regulatory framework that fosters innovation while mitigating risks of fraud.
This marked a stark contrast to Gensler’s approach as SEC Chair.
While legal battles involving Ripple Labs and Coinbase date back to 2020 and 2023, several escalated in 2024.
Companies such as Uniswap, Ethereum, Consensys, Robinhood, and Crypto.com reportedly received Wells Notices from the SEC, heightening regulatory tensions.
These enforcement actions fueled intense debate within the crypto community, with many demanding the resignation of SEC Chair Gensler.
However, despite facing widespread criticism, he remained firm in his stance on cryptocurrency, and stated,
“Crypto is a small piece of our overall markets. But, it’s an outsized piece of the scams and frauds and problems in the markets.”
In fact, during his testimony before the House Financial Services Committee on the 24th of September, Rep. Tom Emmer directly accused Gensler of misusing the SEC’s enforcement powers and noted,
“Your inconsistencies on this issue have set this country back. We could not have had a more historically destructive or lawless chairman of the SEC.”
What’s more?
On the other hand, Peirce’s consistent advocacy for Bitcoin [BTC] ETFs and her strong opposition to aggressive enforcement actions have earned her the moniker “Crypto Mom” within the sector.
Therefore, despite Trump’s initial skepticism, his evolving stance on digital assets during his re-election campaign suggests a more favorable environment for the industry.
Thus, with the SEC now reassessing its legal battles and regulatory strategy, industry participants anticipate a potential policy reset that could redefine the future of crypto in the U.S.
