The US Crypto Awakening

About this episode

This episode discusses the evolving landscape of crypto regulation in the U.S. with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.

For years, crypto policy in the United States was defined less by clear rules than by the threat of enforcement. Startups and institutions building in the space operated in a gray zone: no clear guidance, no path to compliance, and always the possibility of a regulatory hammer coming down. In 2025, that began to change. In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Commissioner Hester Peirce of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — one of Washington's most closely watched voices on digital asset policy. Known informally as "Crypto Mom" for her consistent advocacy that markets work best with clear rules and room to innovate, Commissioner Peirce was designated in 2025 to lead the SEC's first Crypto Task Force, signaling a more structured, collaborative approach to digital asset regulation. Commissioner Peirce brings a rare perspective: a regulator who believes that ambiguity does not protect investors — it protects incumbents and rewards bad actors. In this conversation, she explains what has actually changed in 2025, what it means for companies building in crypto, and what it will take to make this regulatory progress durable beyond any single…

People in this episode

Host: Sriram Viswanathan

Guest: Hester Peirce

Topics covered

• crypto policy
• digital assets
• regulation
• innovation
• SEC
• stablecoins

Keywords

• crypto
• regulation
• SEC
• Hester Peirce
• digital assets
• compliance
• Bitcoin
• stablecoins

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC

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