SEC’s Hester Peirce Calls for Clarity, Targets Bad Actors

Speaking at The Bitcoin Conference 2025, she commented the agency’s regulatory goals, Peirce stressed the importance of distinguishing between responsible and malicious players. “Our aim is to build a good environment for legitimate actors and a bad environment for the bad ones,” she said.

However, she acknowledged that this goal becomes difficult under a cloud of legal uncertainty. Peirce explained that when rules remain vague, it becomes harder to detect and stop bad behavior. “In a murky regulatory landscape, bad actors find more room to operate. Meanwhile, honest participants get pushed out—either abroad or into different industries,” she noted.

Peirce has long advocated for clear, innovation-friendly policies that allow emerging technologies like cryptocurrency to grow within the U.S. instead of being forced offshore.

Her comments come at a time when the SEC faces increasing criticism for a perceived “regulation by enforcement” approach that some say penalizes innovation rather than guiding it. Peirce’s call for balance highlights an internal push to reform how the agency handles the fast-evolving crypto and fintech sectors.

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As the SEC continues to grapple with defining rules for digital assets, Peirce’s message remains clear: Clarity is key—not just for investor protection, but for attracting the right kind of innovation to stay on American soil.

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