US Securities and Exchange (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce criticizes the agency's heavy-handed approach to cryptocurrency regulation, calling for clearer rules to foster innovation.
Amidst the backdrop of ongoing legal challenges faced by crypto firms, Peirce advocates for a regulatory environment that supports, rather than stifles, growth.
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Peirce, who has earned the nickname "Crypto Mom", voiced her concerns at the ETHDenver, the world's largest Web3 innovation festival.
Since her appointment in 2018, Peirce has been a vocal proponent of cryptocurrency within the SEC, often clashing with her more skeptical colleagues. She criticized the agency's tendency to treat cryptocurrencies under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional securities.
This stance has led to high-profile lawsuits against companies like Kraken or Coinbase, reflecting a broader struggle for regulatory clarity in the rapidly evolving digital asset space.
Known for supporting crypto, Peirce highlighted the detrimental impact of the SEC's "enforcement-only mode" on the industry's creative potential. She emphasized the need for clear regulatory guidelines that would allow developers and investors to concentrate on innovation without the looming threat of legal action.
Despite the SEC's aggressive legal posture, Peirce remains hopeful for the development of frameworks that could reconcile the agency's concerns with the industry's growth. She pointed to the recent approval of several Bitcoin ETFs as a positive outcome, albeit one that required judicial intervention.
Peirce's vision includes a regulatory landscape where innovative ideas can thrive, supported by legislation such as the token safe harbor proposal she has championed.
Our job is to figure out where the securities laws are implicated to try and help people get disclosure where there are securities, and then let people make their own decisions.
Peirce's call for more precise guidelines and a more supportive regulatory approach reflects the broader industry's desire to balance innovation and compliance.
The US authorities continue their efforts to enhance digital asset regulation, with the IRS recruiting crypto specialists from the private sector.
