SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce ("Crypto Mom") advocates innovation-friendly regulation in London
SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce delivers a London speech urging proportionate, innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks for crypto.
On April 29, 2019, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Hester M. Peirce — popularly known in the crypto community as "Crypto Mom" — gave a keynote speech in London advocating for a regulatory approach that balances investor protection with innovation. In her address to a financial technology audience, Peirce emphasized principles-based regulation, urging policymakers to avoid blanket bans that stifle technological progress and to design frameworks that provide clarity for legitimate market participants.
She highlighted the importance of custody standards, clear classification of tokens, and proportionate oversight calibrated to risk. Peirce’s remarks referenced cross-border regulatory cooperation and the need for dialogue between regulators and industry to foster safe market development. The speech was reported by Reuters and Financial Times and was followed by panels with UK regulators and market participants discussing practical steps to implement innovation-friendly policy while maintaining market integrity.
Her London remarks reinforced calls for measured, transparent, and consistent regulatory treatment of Bitcoin and related crypto products globally.Her talk also suggested sandbox-style approaches and emphasized communication between supervisors and innovators as a practical path forward.