Hester Peirce argues financial privacy should be the default, not the exception
- —Peirce made the case in a September 23, 2026 speech at the SIFMA Digital Assets Conference
- —She described KYC/AML data gathering as excessive surveillance that fails to protect users
- —She urged adoption of zero-knowledge proofs to prove compliance without revealing data
- —Peirce will resign on October 2, 2026, leaving the SEC with two commissioners
Why it matters: Peirce's exit removes the SEC's most consistent voice for self-custody and privacy, and it is unclear whether her push for privacy-preserving compliance will outlast her tenure.
Source: Crypto Briefing
More on this
Regulation · Sep 30Hester Peirce on her SEC exit: developer protection and financial privacy remain unfinished
Regulation · Oct 1Hester Peirce to leave SEC on October 2 after nearly a decade
Regulation · Sep 30Outgoing SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Says Crypto Use Will Lock In Regulations