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Pro-Crypto SEC Official Cicely LaMothe Retires After 24-Year Career

SEC Cicely LaMothe Retires - SEC Cicely LaMothe Image

Cicely LaMothe, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s deputy director of Corporation Finance, has retired after a 24-year tenure that included shepherding seven main crypto steering paperwork by means of the company.

The SEC announced her departure yesterday, marking the exit of a senior official whose crypto-related coverage work spanned stablecoins, liquid staking, and meme cash throughout a interval of intense regulatory debate over digital belongings.

LaMothe joined the Division of Corporation Finance in 2002 and held a number of management positions earlier than turning into deputy director for disclosure operations in 2022.

She served as appearing director till Paul Atkins appointed Jim Moloney to guide the division in September 2025.

SEC Cicely LaMothe Retires - SEC Cicely LaMothe Image
Source: PLI

Crypto Guidance Defined LaMothe’s Final Years at SEC

LaMothe oversaw the discharge of seven CF Staff Statements addressing quickly evolving crypto issues, together with liquid staking, stablecoins, mining activities, meme coins, and crypto exchange-traded products.

The steering paperwork offered readability on disclosure necessities as digital asset firms sought to navigate SEC registration processes.

“After greater than 20 years on the SEC, I depart with a deep sense of honor and gratitude for the chance to serve the American public,” LaMothe stated within the company’s announcement.

“The work has been extremely difficult and rewarding, and I’ve realized immensely from the devoted people who commit themselves day by day to this essential mission.“

Beyond crypto coverage, LaMothe expanded lodging for firms submitting draft registration statements and drove suggestions on accelerating filings with obligatory arbitration provisions.

She issued over 25 new and up to date Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations overlaying clawbacks, deSPACs, and Rule 10b5-1 plans.

LaMothe Faced Congressional Scrutiny Over Tron’s Nasdaq Debut

LaMothe’s function drew consideration in September when Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Sean Casten questioned her oversight of Tron’s reverse merger onto Nasdaq.

The lawmakers challenged the SEC’s February choice to pause enforcement proceedings in opposition to Tron founder Justin Sun, who later took the corporate public in July by means of a reverse merger.

Merkley and Casten instructed Sun’s investments in Trump family crypto ventures, together with World Liberty Financial and the Official Trump memecoin, might have influenced the case’s suspension.

They additionally raised nationwide safety issues about Tron’s alleged ties to the Chinese authorities.

The lawmakers requested LaMothe and Chair Atkins whether or not Tron met rigorous itemizing requirements and the way the SEC may shield traders by means of any Sun settlement.

During that point, their letter additionally highlighted broader questions on overseas crypto firms accessing US exchanges by means of comparable merger buildings.

Retirement Comes Amid Sweeping SEC Policy Shifts

LaMothe’s departure follows dramatic adjustments on the SEC below Atkins, who took over in April after Gary Gensler’s resignation.

The company has dropped practically 60 % of crypto enforcement circumstances since Trump’s January inauguration, together with high-profile actions in opposition to Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance.

In September, Atkins told Fox Business the SEC now points warning notices earlier than enforcement actions, rejecting Gensler’s lawsuit-first strategy.

He stated most tokens will not be securities and assist tokenized asset buying and selling with the identical authorized rights as underlying devices.

The company additionally launched a Crypto Task Force and is creating an innovation exemption designed to assist crypto companies experimenting with blockchain-based providers.

Atkins stated the measure could possibly be finalized by year-end, regardless of many financial, seasonal, and democrats obstacles alongside the best way.

Meanwhile, Senate leaders are racing to move the Responsible Financial Innovation Act earlier than 2026.

The invoice would make clear SEC and CFTC jurisdiction over digital belongings, set up a joint advisory committee, and shield DeFi builders from securities legal guidelines if protocols stay decentralized.

LaMothe’s retirement additionally coincides with mass departures from the SEC.

Reuters information exhibits the company misplaced as much as 19 % of full-time workers in key divisions throughout May, prompting Representative Maxine Waters to demand oversight hearings with Atkins.

Waters questioned whether or not the SEC maintains enough human capital to perform its mission following what she referred to as “unprecedented politicization” below the Trump administration.

The submit Pro-Crypto SEC Official Cicely LaMothe Retires After 24-Year Career appeared first on Cryptonews.

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